Check Out Charlie Vangas’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlie Vangas.

Hi Charlie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
It all kind of started when I was just a kid at around 8 or so. My dad has been a woodworker for 50 years. I started helping him out stripping and refinishing old antiques and other small things like that. As I got into highschool I started really growing into soccer and ended up falling in love with it and played all year round. It took a lot of my time and passion away from anything else. I worked in the service industry after only a year in college for quite a while. I eventually got burnt out from it and started to work with my dad at a large woodworking store here in Columbus. I immediately fell in love with woodworking again. Making all sorts of the normal things like cutting boards and up to coffee tables and plant stand amongst other things. It wasn’t until around 2 years ago that everything really changed. I had been an alcoholic for the majority of my life and found the strength to get clean then. It was incredibly humbling and opened my mind back up to all the things I had always loved including art. I really just felt more love for the art. I started making more unique and one of a kind things including wall art and engravings of my own designs. Started to incorporate other mediums like epoxy, acrylics, dye stains and things like that. It has evolved into an entirely different way I think about woodworking now. And it brings me so much more joy and appreciation for what I do.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ll go with the road of the last two years because it’s when I feel I rediscovered myself. Recovering from alcoholism while also having cirrhosis has been the hardest struggle of my life. I drank for over half of my life and destroyed my liver before I even hit 40. It comes with a lot of pain and different issues that make everyday a little harder. With that, Less than a year ago as well, my dad and I had to close our store for good after trying our best to keep it alive. The store was in business for 34 years. All of this though has been a drive and inspiration for every single piece I create. The one thing I learned about myself through recovery from addiction is the strength I have in me.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I make a wide range of different wood products. I like to bring woodworking and art together. Most of the wood I use is exotic and rare figured woods that most have never even heard of. It’s incredibly beautiful and special wood from all over the world. I never duplicate a piece. Everything I do is one of a kind. I’m most proud of the wall art I have created. I put a lot of thought and emotion into a lot of them and I never thought anyone would ever appreciate it let alone purchase it. I’m extremely grateful for that.

What does success mean to you?
That’s a hard question really but If I can make one person smile or make them feel something from my art I think I feel I have succeeded.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vangascustomwoodproducts.com/home
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/vangas_custom_wood_products