Over the past several decades Dick Idol has become recognized as a true icon in the world of outdoor sporting. We talked to him about his art and his popular lines Dick Idol Lighting and Dick Idol Home Decor.
Favorite design inspiration:
The Great Outdoors, of course! For thousands of years man has been inspired by nature and has collected nature’s trappings to display in his indoor haunts…antlers, wildlife mounts, unique rocks, fossils, feathers. As was the case with our ancestors, I also find these elements very much a part of my own designs.
How he works:
I often get an inspirational “spark” from observations of nature. Simple things like the color of a mountain stream, how the light shines over a rocky shore, or the details on an antique fishing creel. I also love visiting historic sites like mountain lodges and then translating those settings into new Dick Idol table lamp designs.
Favorite item in his house:
I’ve surrounded myself with all kinds of collectibles…it’s difficult to name my “favorite”! But a relatively recent addition is a handmade grandfather clock that three artisans created from whittled twigs, worn painted tramp art and river stones. I love it. It brings to mind visions of an old mountain lodge nestled in the north woods.
Item he won’t part with:
An antique 18-foot birch bark canoe made in the 1890s by the Ojibwa Indians, which hangs in my studio. This old fur trade-era often inspires me; its warm, golden-aged patinas and hand craftsmanship from the days of only simple tools and craft work.
His inside secret:
I’d have to say it’s really living the outdoor lifestyle. Since my early teens I’ve been involved in the great outdoors. My love and appreciation of the unique art and design elements contained within nature, my understanding of wildlife and my feeling for past generations that handcrafted their homes and dwellings – all this shapes my life and art.
Hot new design trend:
“Rustic Elegance”. It’s a rustic feeling in home furnishings that has transitioned itself from the primitive lodge look to a more refined look. The style retains many rustic design elements, but has a comfortable, more contemporary look that works in almost any home environment today.
Biggest design mistake people make:
People often forget to keep a central theme and harmonious color palette running through their rooms. I’ll often work with warm golden colors and earthy reds that complement a more natural rustic look. For example, one of my most popular lighting collections is “Glacier Mountain”. This collection incorporates a softly lit amber light with subtle pine cone designs. This compliments and sets off many of the colors in nature and helps to create a rustic elegance in a home.
Question he’s asked most often:
How do I get a job like yours?!
Decisive moment is his career:
A turning point in my career was on a trip to High Point, N.C., when the realization occurred to me that the outdoors was not only a lifestyle segment but was a very large category and was basically without a dominant individual brand personality that people could identify with.
Collects:
I’m interested in all kinds of historic and antique items as well as art that deals with the “outdoor lifestyle”. Favorites are the Fur Trade/discovery of the West era, wildlife, art and any other unique item in that period, including Indian snowshoes, birch bark canoes and antlers. These have influenced such designs as the Old River Canoe Table Lamp and the High Country Antler Chandelier.
As a child wanted to be:
A wild frontiersman! As a kid growing up on a family farm in North Carolina, I was always digging up arrowheads, fishing, camping and hunting. I wanted to be a wilderness trapper or guide that would take me to the famous and exotic destinations of the world – Alaska, Africa, the Yukon, etc.
Obsessed With:
Art! I love collecting art from fellow wildlife artists, and I always look forward to getting out in my studio and creating.
Best recent gift:
Can you believe a re-gift? My longtime friend and fishing buddy of 40 years, Carson Smith, recently found a watch that was given to me in 1968 as a member of the North Carolina State Liberty Bowl football team. Carson managed to locate the watch, have it repaired, and presented it as a surprise graduation gift for my son.
What’s next?
I’m excited about my new collaboration with my fiancée, Toni Rae, herself a recognized interior designer and metalsmith. We are working on new art projects and designs for the rustic home which I hope to introduce this coming spring. Stay tuned…much more to come!