We had the good fortune of connecting with Jolie Karno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jolie, what do you attribute your success to?
It’s freedom. I give myself permission to try new things that are difficult, time consuming or unusual. Traditionally this kind of thinking makes for bad business when time is money, but I’m more interested in art than in fast profit. I make things that are special. This requires clients who understand the value of artistic expression as well and skilled craftspersonship so there are far fewer but when they find me, I make things they love and they come back for more.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Jolie Karno Design is my brand. People come to me if they want something made to fit them.

Often it’s a piece I already made. Sometimes it’s a project. Other artists come to me with ideas and we collaborate or a designer asks to commision me to make special legs of a bowl of sculptural form for furniture or sculpture they are making.

I’m known as the artist other artists come to when they need my specialty. I don’t advertise so clients find me by word of mouth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
*Hiking in the Oakland hills. It’s outrageously beautiful up there. It’s hard to believe you are next to a city.

Check out Nido’s Backyard Cafe It’s a couple of large patios with great food and most importantly, it’s friendly dog friendly so you can eat great food and and get a snuggle.

Eat at 925 Mercato on University Ave. Crazy good Mexican. Get the Mole Enchiladas and some Pollo Chilaquiles.

Go to The Crucible and take a tour! Take a class at Lower 48 woodshop to meet me and learn to turn wood.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Crucible! It’s an industrial art school in Oakland CA where I learned woodworking and went on to lathe work. Not only did the people offer me guidance and skill development, I found an audience for my art and learned that my “weirder” work would sell out there.
Bill Fultz (Crucible artist) demonstrated that don’t need to make the same things ad nauseum and now I make what I love and clients get to have something original of mine be it sculpture, furniture legs of classical Victorian restoration.

Website: https://joliekarnodesign.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joliekarnodesign/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jolie.karno

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lower+48+woodshop

Image Credits
Ted Bluey-Portrait

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.