VanGogh Repair

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How I first got into the carpentry

My career began when I was 17 years old, I attended Job Corps to finish high school, and accidentally found my passion, Carpentry. At Job Corps you pick a trade and alternate from one week of school to one week of your trade until you graduate.  I graduated from high school and carpentry at the same time. I found my first job framing condos in Bellevue, WA and joined the Carpenter’s Union as an apprentice in the summer of 1993. I really enjoyed going to work every day.  I realized very quickly, I was not strong enough, so I began working out at the gym every day and work became much more enjoyable. I became a journeyman carpenter at age 22 in 1997.  I built bridges, abutments, columns, framed with wood and metal, built concrete elevator cores, sheer walls, decks, feature walls, tilt ups, installed metal and wood door jambs, doors & hardware. Just to mention the main things, there was much more during these first 10 years. The jobs were demanding & fast-paced. I loved every minute!

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What helped refine my general skill

I had my twin daughters when I was 27 and found I was able to squeeze in projects all around the neighborhood by hiring a nanny for 4-6 hours a day. I built sheds, fences, decks, additions, finished basements, and took on any project with enthusiasm.

After 3 years of side projects, I went back to the union building concrete high rises, I mastered total station (theodolite light) layout; After which I became foreman of layout for the company using a Leica or Topcon theodolite, Carson software and AutoCAD. —It’s so fun and exhilarating to have that much power in your hands.

I began interior layout on tenant improvements in hospitals in 2011 and found that I was drawn to finish work. I couldn’t get enough of paneling, casework, the layout of it, the installation of fine finishes became my new passion for many years.

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What my pivotal moment was to get into repair

I was installing a $100,000 conference table at Microsoft when I made a grave error and drilled right up through the top of the table. I was horrified and began packing up my tools ready to get fired. I was yelled at but to my astonishment, not fired.

It took all my strength to come back to work the next day and found that the hole was gone. I knew right where it had been, and I couldn’t find it! Someone had come in and fixed it. I didn’t even know this could be done and so I set out to find who fixed my mistake. This man, John Vangen (aka “VanGogh”) became my teacher and mentor; he remains one of my dearest friends today. I studied and practiced, finding every repair method I could find.

I repaired wood first for years, then metal, stone, plastic, concrete, solid surface countertops, stainless steel, glass, wood veneer, laminate, and much more. 

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Roots of our name ‘VanGogh‘

To honor my mentor and pursue my passion, I started VanGogh Repair in the summer of 2024. By the fall I had quit my full-time job and began full-time repair artistry. I have found my mission.

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About my drive and purpose

Repairing things has become my superpower. I’m an artist already and I think outside the box. I see color and can correct it, recoat it and make it good as new. My mission is to keep fine finishes out of the landfills. Construction is hard on the environment. Repairing fine finishes is important for sustainability, it makes me sad when structurally sound material is thrown away unnecessarily. Usually, it’s thrown away because of lack of knowledge about how to restore it, or lack of patience with the details. 

What I have created is craftsmanship at its best, a mix of finish carpentry and artistry mixed with patience and tenacity.

I have started an apprenticeship to train others how to fix things, encouraging them to use their creativity.

I stand behind my work, I am a craftsman and an artist at my core, with new ones being trained.  You are in good hands when you give your project to VanGogh, we will restore it back to beauty. 

—Liza Baker