Meet Brendon O’Halloran

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brendon O’Halloran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brendon, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
It feels less like something I pursue and more like it’s just who I am, so that’s what I do. I have a low tolerance for monotony and mundane, so the jobs I gravitate towards often are more unusual and eccentric . I want to do what I love and love what I do, keeps the motivation high. good for the soul. I think we all have this creative spark and it just depends on how much you focus on it and feed it. I love being creative and being involved in artistic things. Music, drawing, carpentry, building objects. on and on. Anything can be a creative endeavor, you can be artistic digging a hole.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m know for a style that is olde world vintage and I use a variety of mediums. Carpentry/Design:
I Specialize in creative structures and places that make you want to stay and hang out. Bars, restaurant, treehouses,
I work with reclaimed wood and recycled materials a lot, but all depends what the client wants.
I get commissioned to do all sorts of stuff. decks, sheds. tables, bookshelves, furniture , whatever.
I’ve built a few treehouses and a secret Salloon in Topanga. The Old Place restaurant in Agoura has long been a home for me and Morgan to build all the cool things around there .( old truck coffee shop) & next door is the The Cornell Winery where I have a little display section and they sell some of my art. One of my favorites is I did the bar remodel/design out at Rivers End pub and campground and I love seeing people enjoying the environment we created.
Some of my mostest favoritest projects have been building big art out at Burning man. A ship on a bus(the anostraca), a sea serpent and shipwreck (naga and the captainess) a heart that burned to reveal a steel butterfly inside ( breaking open).
fun shit.
On the fine (not so fine) art side, I draw.
Mostly nautical themed art and current maps that look like old style maps
Etching. & engraving on bottles, glassware, shot glasses, flasks, zippo lighters,
Woodblock printing and other random art out of old wood, driftwood and metal bits
Often I’d rather make something than go buy it, so I create things. Things I love to look at, hold and use.
Once I make it for myself, inevitably someone else wants one too so I’ll make a few and gift or sell them.
Some examples, A leather water bottle holder because I don’t like to drink out of plastic, a little wooden travel table that fits in a bag for the beach or wherever , a travel cutlery set in a leather pouch, lamps.. I probably need a factory. let me know if you want help with that .
It’s been quite the journey learning, making, refining, and honestly sometimes I feel like a hack. Truth is I probably am. But at the end of the day I know I give my all to do a great job, strive to learn and be better to make quality things, and keep a light heart about problems so I don’t turn into a grumpy old git.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Truth is my places are simple and not trendy. My friends own my favorite places. The Old Place restaurant on Mulholland for a drink, dinner and a chill hang, Rivers End Rv park & pub in Santa Clarita for smoked BBQ and a stroll down by the stream. The beach is always good. Venice for out of towners and a couple dive bars that I won’t talk about because I don’t want more people there. Mostly I’m fan of hanging with friends and having a laugh so we are doing drinks at friends houses or around the back of my pick up truck.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So I guess this is my award show speech I give before the music plays me off for taking too long. I am very grateful for many people and situations that have inspired me.
My mom! She was spontaneous and wild. Once she threw out our tv to make us use our imagination and creativity instead of staring at the box.
My brother Dustin. At a young age he and I were always doing fun creative things together and it wouldn’t have been the same without him..
I’ve alway felt lucky to have amazing musicians and artists friends who pushed and challenged me.
My buddy Sean Cullen whom I’ve played more music along side than anyone else, has always been an inspiration for creativity and skill.
The old days at the Temple bar, bands like Dakah and Rhythm Room All Stars. .
My musician and artist friends in Topanga.
My buddy Morgan Runyon, the owner of the Old Place Restaurant, is always inspiring me in the craft of reclaimed wood building and thinking outside the box with an artistic eye.
Burning man and working in the art dept in films was a huge turning point for me as a builder/artist. Big Art, extreme creative visions and the people that go with them.

Website: www.ohalloranarts.com

Instagram: B.ohalloran

Image Credits
Brendon O’Halloran