BRICK - While Cape May native Jeff Small has enjoyed a successful career teaching math for many years, he successfully tapped into his creative side with his 2021 launch of 1603 Designs, a venture which combines his lifelong love of rock music and interest in carpentry in the creation of intricately carved wooden logos that help bands, music lovers and business owners make a statement.

“I discovered classic and punk rock music as a kid and was also big into surfing,” recalled Small, 45, a Brick resident. “Bands that I loved in the 1990s included Pennywise, Rancid, NOFX, the Offspring and Green Day, all of whom represented a bit of counterculture and were popular among people who were into extreme sports. I lost my father at a young age and the music spoke to me; there was a lot of positivity in the lyrics, even though they had an edginess,” he said. “Music is unconditional and was always something I could turn to.”

After graduating from Rowan University with a sociology degree, “I worked as a residential counselor helping kids who were dealing with emotional and physical abuse, then moved to Brick, got my teaching degree, and have been teaching math, science and special education at the middle school level in Monmouth County for over a decade,” he said.

Little did Small know that a unique piece of carpentry equipment would open the door to a new venture.

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“A couple of years ago, I was making some extra money by helping a woodworker friend of mine complete some projects with a band saw, and he introduced me to the scroll saw, which is a band saw with a small blade that enables you to make very tight turns,” Small said.

“I’d seen some interesting wooden logos, signs and home décor pieces on Etsy that had sports themes and were designed for man caves, she-sheds and other dedicated spaces, and I thought it would be cool to see band logos carved out of wood," he said.

"When we moved to our current house in Brick in April 2021 and I had the space,” Small said, “I bought a $100 scroll saw and some other tools and started working out of my garage to create these pieces.”

He officially launched 1603 Designs — named after the numerical address of the house where he grew up — later that spring. “My mom passed away in 2013 and I feel like the name of my business helps keep my mom’s memory alive,” he said.

Hours of work to get it right

Using multi-density fiberboard, a compacted product used primarily for arts and crafts projects, “I layer pieces so that my logos are three-dimensional, apply a type of paint that graffiti artists use because it adheres better and lasts longer, and then spray the pieces with a seal coat to finish them,” he said of his carved wooden art that pops with color and depth. “Based on the equipment I have, my pieces can be up to 24” by 24” in size and they range in price from $100 for smaller items to about $300 for larger, more intricate pieces that involve more materials.”

Promoted on Instagram, Small has crafted pieces for surfers, skateboarders and snowboarders nationwide — “one customer puts my wooden logos up around his half-pipe and another has them by his skateboard ramp,” he said — and they’ve also found homes in a range of different local businesses, from Salty’s Beach Bar in Lake Como to a jewelry store, a podcaster’s broadcast space and more.

“Sometimes I’ve given the logos to the bands themselves,” Small noted of pieces that feature band’s logos or album names, “and a piece I made as a tribute to Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters was recently displayed in an art gallery next to a photo of Taylor that rock photographer and Sea.Hear.Now Festival co-producer Danny Clinch took,” Small said.

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Small said that a renowned New Jersey-based filmmaker is also a customer.

“Kevin Smith recently saw a logo of the Misfits that I made on a wooden silhouette of New Jersey and called me to ask if I did commissioned pieces,” Small said. “He ultimately commissioned me to make a logo for the movie theater he recently purchased in Atlantic Highlands, Smodcastle Cinemas, and was a super-nice guy.”

“I additionally make bottle openers themed around bands and sports teams, which I sell for $30,” he said. “I’ve sold hundreds of wall logos and bottle openers in the past two years, and they’re all hand-made and hold up well.”

Ever the family man, “I’ve also created logos for my daughters’ birthdays and a 'Ghostbusters' movie logo for them at Halloween,” Small said.

Once a customer reaches out to him, “we talk about their idea for a logo and I always try to incorporate their input,” said Small, who carves his pieces using a template that he sets on the wood with a spray adhesive. “Including sanding and painting, the whole process usually takes me anywhere from four to eight hours per piece.”

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'It's therapeutic for me'

While challenges include the fact that lumber and shipping costs increased significantly during the pandemic and continue to rise, Small said that competition hasn’t been an issue. “I’ve seen these types of logos for sports teams and rock bands done in plexiglass and metal, but I haven’t really seen any done in wood, so my pieces are pretty unique,” he said.

That point of differentiation has served Small well when he sells his items at such venues as the recent Trenton Punk Rock Flea Market. “Among other in-person events, I’ll also be selling my pieces at the Asbury Park Punk Rock Flea Market this June and October,” he said.

Looking ahead, “I plan to experiment with wooden décor that’s specific to the Jersey Shore, like large wooden beach tags, lighthouse-themed logos, and even ‘Welcome to My Classroom’ logos for teachers,” Small said. “These are personalized items that you can't find in a big-box store or online.”

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According to Small, “the most rewarding thing is when people contact me to say that they love my piece and show me where they hung it,” he said. “I recently created a New Jersey Devils-themed wooden logo for a co-worker of mine and his girlfriend took a video of his reaction when he opened it and shared it with me — he was so stoked!”

For Small, time spent in his workshop offers a relaxing and creative outlet.

“With a wife, two kids, and a full-time job, it’s not always easy getting out to the garage, but when I do have the time out there, I have my music going and it’s therapeutic for me,” he said. “The pieces I create are like my babies and I love seeing how each one comes together.”

1603 Designs

Location: Brick

Phone: 732-994-3254

Owner: Jeff Small

Launched: Spring 2021

Instagram: 1603_designs

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: 1603 Designs in Brick offers woodcut art to customers like Kevin Smith