Portrait by David Fenton

A comfortable atmosphere fills the Northern Arizona furniture workshop of KM Skiby & Sons. Sawdust peppers the floor and workbenches. The smell of freshly cut wood permeates the air. And two friendly dogs, Nappah and Frasier, mill about, surveying the latest creations. With stacks of alder wood and numerous carving tools, this Prescott Valley studio is like a second home for Ken Skiby, the company’s owner and chief craftsman, who is recognized for his ability to take wood and turn it into artful pieces of furniture.

Intricate carvings often embellish this Master of the Southwest’s work, from doors with geometric basket-weave patterns to cabinetry with ornate Southwest-style medallions. Skiby also employs such traditional techniques as mortise-and-tenon construction to create hand-planed, bench-made furnishings that many cherish as signature pieces in their homes.

Interior designer and fellow Master of the Southwest Tony Sutton describes Skiby’s work this way: “It’s a combination of elements with the execution of the fine handcraftsmanship and distressed finishes.” He adds that the woodsmith exhibits a rare blend of talent, character and conscientiousness. Skiby sums up his philosophy humbly: “Basically, I try to come up with something I’m proud of, that people will love to pass along from generation to generation.”

He explains that two of the most important aspects of his approach—determination and a scrupulous attention to detail—are traits he learned from his grandfather. Growing up in Southern California, Skiby recalls time spent with his grandfather and childhood mentor. “I visited him quite often as a kid, and I was intrigued by the different things he would come up with, like woodcarving and blacksmithing,” Skiby reminisces. “He never hired anyone to do anything. He did it all himself. He was meticulous about it, and he would create things off the top of his head.”

This sense of pride and his thoroughness have stayed with Skiby over the years. Early in his career he worked in construction to perfect his woodworking skills, while carving and making furniture in his free time. In the late 1990s he was offered a job running a custom furniture shop near Prescott, Ariz.; a year later he bought the business and launched his own firm.

When talking to Skiby, one can sense his admiration for the natural beauty of wood. He looks for this beauty in other aspects of his life, too. The self-taught craftsman says he unwinds by spending time outdoors with his family. A favorite pastime is hiking through the forests of Northern Arizona, looking for oddly shaped pieces of wood to take home and carve—to “bring out what nature’s already created.”

Standing in his workshop, Skiby inspects a newly made buffet and explains that each one-of-a-kind wood piece is a reflection of himself and the passion he has for his craft. “I love everything about it—the smell of the wood, the sound of the saw. I even like the sawdust.”

Photo by David Fenton Woodsmith Ken Skiby crafted this alder-wood entry door. The design of the carved medallion was inspired by the works of a ceramic artist collected by the homeowners.

Photo by David Fenton This large wall unit was built to follow the curved shape of a kitchen wall in an adobe home in Sedona, Ariz. Drawers and cabinets of all sizes are adorned with leaf and diamond motifs.