An accidental artist: Napa man’s woodworking hobby evolves in unexpected ways

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Napa man’s woodworking hobby evolves in unexpected ways

When Rep. Mike Thompson arrived at John Sensenbaugh’s west Napa home for a mutual friend’s going-away party, he noticed that the garage door was open. Inside was a scroll saw and dozens of wooden shapes littering a work bench, like oversized jigsaw pieces.

Thompson’s interest was piqued; “I’ve always had an interest in people’s hobbies – what they do and how they

TRACY SKELTON

do it.”

Thompson exchanged salutations with Sensenbaugh and asked what he was working on. Sensenbaugh didn’t have a name for his hobby – he isn’t aware of anyone creating art like what has evolved in his garage over the past few years.

“Wood art,” Sensenbaugh said. Thompson had “never heard of wood art,” prompting Sensenbaugh to lead his congressman inside.

Lining a stairwell and living room walls were unframed, quarter-inch plywood rectangles, mostly 18-by-24 inches in size, serving as backdrops for intricately cut wooden shapes set tightly together and glued.

They are relief puzzles, made from scratch. The results include replica movie posters (noir is a theme), album covers (Rolling Stones and Dylan), a wine bottle label (Il Bastardo), or anything that strikes

Sensenbaugh’s interest.

Sometimes he riffs – throwing a couple ideas together – but the ideas are secondary.

“The skill is in the cutting and fitting of pieces,” Sensenbaugh said.

Even the wood is chosen carefully, factoring in a wood’s species for color and noting grain direction when deciding on cuts and placement. He finds that using the scroll saw is relaxing and rewarding.

“I can really get into it. It’s a great way to spend hours,” he said.

What started as a fun woodworking hobby making chairs, a picnic table, and children’s toys – fairy tale castles, train cars, and rocking horses, to name a few – eventually stalled as Sensenbaugh became increasingly frustrated trying to make more intricate cuts.

A friend recommended a scroll saw and Sensenbaugh was hooked. His work evolved to become more and more intricate until settling, for now, on the 18-by-24 wall hangings that caught Thompson’s eye.

“It was absolutely amazing – absolutely beautiful work” Thompson recalls. “It takes some special skills and talent to be able to do that.”

Sensenbaugh recalls Thompson looking at all the pieces he had on display but was “looking and looking” at a rendering of Uncle Sam – muscles bulging and sleeves rolled – with the words “Who’s Next?” in relief across the top.

Thompson told Sensenbaugh about the district art he keeps in his office; maybe Sensenbaugh would be interested in loaning his art? Sensenbaugh followed up with Thompson’s staff.

In August 2019, Sensenbaugh flew to Washington, D.C., carefully bringing Uncle Sam with him. A ceremony was held in Thompson’s office – described by Thompson as a “little gathering” – and Sensenbaugh’s art was given its place on Thompson’s outer-office wall, visible to everyone who enters.

“I would not have been considered an ‘artist’ three years ago,” Sensenbaugh marvels, considering how much his hobby has evolved.

For Thompson, art should be celebrated and shown off; “I love art and I think it’s such an important part of life. And if it’s not, it should be.”