Milwaukee-area wood artist Ike Wynter didn’t set out to launch a studio; he simply wanted to keep good material out of the landfill. “I’ve always been a dumpster diver,” he says. While working for his family’s junk-removal business, he noticed a frustrating pattern: Metal could be recycled and clothing donated, but flawed or chipped wood was destined for the dumpster.
Curiosity led him to start collecting it—boards from demolition sites, pallets from alleys, and fencing from yard waste piles. “I started picking it up and thought, ‘Could we repurpose this?’” he says. That instinct sparked a practice that still guides his work today.
Here are just a few of the factors that led Wynter from tinkering with would-be trash to finding his niche, growing an audience and collaborating with major figures in sports and entertainment.
Starting Small
Between 2016 and 2020, Wynter experimented on nights and weekends. Armed with just a few basic tools, he started cutting, fitting and reimagining his collected scraps. Pallets were a favorite: “They’re free, they’re versatile and they’re everywhere,” he says. They were also tough to cut, which helped Wynter sharpen both his patience and precision.
At first, he built coffee tables—nine in a few months—but he soon discovered a passion for more artistic pieces, creating bold mosaics that highlighted the textures and colors of weathered wood.
From Hobby to Hustle
The COVID-19 pandemic gave Wynter more studio time and prompted him to share more of his artwork on social media. But a real turning point came offline: At a wedding, Ike showed photos of one of his pieces to a guest, who immediately asked the price. “I said $750, and he Venmo’d me on the spot,” Wynter says. “It wasn’t about the money; it was the respect that something I built from wood had that value.”
By 2021, Wynter had stepped away from the family business to briefly work with a Los Angeles nonprofit connecting kids with celebrities. That gig led to his first major commission: a heart-shaped Mike Tyson piece that incorporated the boxer’s iconic face tattoo. “[The nonprofit] had followed me on Instagram and asked if I’d build something,” Wynter says.
By 2023, back in Wisconsin, he committed fully to his art. His feed soon caught fire: A viral Crayola box piece opened doors to collaborations with the Milwaukee Brewers, the Milwaukee Bucks, the NHL’s Stanley Cup and the NFL Draft. “Most of the time, I make the art first, then brands reach out,” he says. Posting consistently transformed him from a local artist into a national collaborator. But he’s stayed grounded: “I’m not money focused. I still do it out of joy and curiosity; that’s what keeps it alive.”
Keep Your Toolkit Lean
While some woodshops are stacked with expensive equipment, Wynter keeps things simple. “Almost a decade in, I still use four tools,” he says. A circular saw, jigsaw, miter saw and the essentials—such as a tape measure and pencil—carry him through most projects. “You don’t need a giant arsenal. Simplicity keeps you creative.”
While Wynter’s toolkit has remained consistent, his material choices have evolved with each project. Pallets gave way to picket fences, then discarded dressers. Lately he’s drawn to prepainted or stained furniture. “If I found a purple dresser, that’d be gold. I don’t stain or paint, but if it’s already colored, I’ll work it into the piece.” The shift forces him to see familiar material with fresh eyes.
The Bigger Picture
Wynter’s work underscores a larger environmental issue. In 2018, Americans discarded 12.1 million tons of furniture and furnishings, with more than 80% headed to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Wood alone made up 18.1 million tons of municipal solid waste. While 95% of wood pallets are recycled, most other wood products aren’t, meaning artists like Wynter are intercepting material before it’s buried.
“Every day people throw away stuff I can use,” he says. “It’s not about saving the world, but if I can keep a little out of the landfill and turn it into something people love, that feels right.”
Making a Connection
Much of Wynter’s art taps into nostalgia, forging an instant emotional connection with his audience. He repurposed fencing into a SpongeBob-inspired piece, and his viral Crayola box recalls childhood classrooms. “Nostalgia is the most powerful drug,” he says. “If someone scrolling Instagram sees a piece that takes them back to a moment in life, that’s a unique opportunity.”
His dream commissions? Tony Hawk and Green Day, icons of his youth. “So much of my work is rooted in childhood and memory,” he says.
Wynter’s career may look unconventional, but the formula is simple: Keep your toolkit lean, work with what you find and let the material guide the outcome. His pieces don’t just tell stories of nostalgia; they hold the history of every board, dresser or pallet that built them. For him, that’s reason enough to keep cutting, joining and sharing.
From Scrap to Success: 6 Tips That Pay Off
Take these cues from Ike Wynter’s journey to make your woodworking hobby work for you.
Experiment first
Don’t worry about perfection or profit—just start cutting. Early projects teach you what works and what doesn’t.
Limit your tools
A few reliable saws and the basics will get you far and encourage you to think creatively.
Use what’s free
Pallets, fencing and discarded furniture are great practice stock. They’re cheap, abundant and full of quirks that challenge your skills.
Push your materials
Each year, try a new wood source or technique. Staying flexible keeps your creative process fresh and growing.
Build first, share after
Don’t wait around for commissions. Make the work you want to see, then put it online. Finished pieces attract attention better than ideas alone.
Keep it fun
The fastest way to burn out is to treat every build like a paycheck. Protect the playful part of the process—that’s what will keep you coming back.
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