When Parker Converse walks into his Sarasota workshop, he isn’t just stepping into the workplace—his space is part of his evolving legacy. For more than two decades, Converse has earned a reputation for creating sculpted wood rocking chairs—works of functional art that marry elegance with utility and range in price from $5,000 to $30,000, with an average of around $6,500. 

But his path to woodworking’s upper echelon wasn't direct. From working in venture capital to captaining boats to writing thrillers, Converse’s career trajectory is as varied as the woods he uses to create his designs. We caught up with him to find out more. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Your career journey is remarkable, and you began it working in finance. How did that evolve into woodworking? 

"When I was younger, I thought being rich meant having a lot of money. I went to business school, but even after achieving financial success [working in venture capital], I wasn’t happy. Eventually, I left and became a sea captain. But it wasn’t until my 40s that I found what I was looking for.

"I’d seen a photo of a Sam Maloof rocker years earlier, and I decided, 'I’m going to make gorgeous chairs.' I didn’t have formal training, but I’ve always believed that you can figure it out if you set your mind to something. I bought a bunch of wood, stared at it for months, and couldn't figure out all the curves. I got online and found a maker in Fredericksburg, Virginia. I traveled there and watched him and took pictures and came back to Sarasota. That was one of the best investments I've ever made. It took me six weeks to make my first chair; I've made just over 200 now."

What brought you to Sarasota?

"I'm originally from Massachusetts, and I arrived here with my wife Louise [owner of the Rosemary District's Artisan Cheese Company]. We had to remake ourselves. It was 2001. She had worked at Harvard for almost 20 years and I had been a sea captain. We wanted to build on land in a strange land. Sarasota was a compromise between Key West and Cambridge, Massachusetts."

What drew you to making rocking chairs, specifically?

"There’s something inherently peaceful about a rocking chair. I can’t imagine anyone yelling from one. They’re personal and versatile. I make armless chairs for guitar playing and quilting, and chairs with convex arms for reading or concave arms for just sitting. Each chair is designed to fit the activity and the person. When you sit down, you should feel like the chair was made for you, because it is. I experimented with a dining chair, but I haven't figured out how to mass-produce a set without freaking someone out about the price. It’s all custom and handmade. People choose the wood, headrests, seats and arms." 

Your chairs are often described as "functional art." Can you explain what that means?

"It means creating something beautiful that also serves a purpose. Some clients want 'eye candy,' so I’ve incorporated leather accents or used exotic woods like Amboyna burl, which you’d typically find in Bentleys and Ferraris. Others want something understated, like a chair that feels like an old shoe. Either way, the goal is a balance of aesthetics and utility.

"When the chair owner dies, it's something the kids want. It ends up being a legacy piece." 

What’s your process for crafting one?

"Each chair takes from 10 to 14 days to build. It begins with a conversation with the client about size, color and purpose. I need their height, weight and inseam. The inseam is very important cause it determines the seat length and the height of the seat from the floor. 

"From there, I source the wood, sometimes flying across the country to hand-pick boards. Matching the grain patterns is crucial, as many components need to mirror each other for symmetry. After cutting and planing the wood, I laminate pieces for the rockers and back braces, sculpt the seat and legs and cut rounded mortise and tenon joints that give the chairs their distinctive look.

"Sanding alone takes days, progressing from 80 grit to 1,000 grit until the surface feels almost sensual. I free-grind a lot of it with a grinder, and I sculpt every seat with a router and grinder. I apply multiple coats of Danish oil by hand and never stain. It demands such an eye for detail and patience. You can't sell a $7,000 chair if every joint isn't perfect."

What do you look for in the woods you choose?

"I seek out diversity in the woods, and ones with the wildest grain patterns. When you have a chair this pricy, it has to say, 'I am unique and special.' I have a source who goes into the woods and selects Burl to sell to Ferrari and Bentley. Burl comes from the narra tree. When it gets a virus, rather than it spreading, it grows a burl that becomes host to the virus. Most wood has linear fibers, but burl doesn't. It gets a confused genetic message and grows cells in every direction. That's why it's so interesting looking."

How do you balance woodworking with your career as a published author?

"Writing came naturally during the pandemic when I had more time at home. Over the past three years, I’ve published three thrillers under my pen name, Rip Converse. My first book, Callie Awakens, even won a first-place award for best new thriller in 2021 from the  Chanticleer International Book Awards [which recognize outstanding works in the thriller and suspense mystery genre]. Writing and woodworking both require precision and creativity, but they complement each other. When I’m sanding a chair, I’ll work through plot ideas in my head."

What advice would you give to aspiring craftspeople or creators?

"The main thing is don’t be afraid to start, even if you have no formal training. I’ve learned that mastery comes from doing, failing and improving. Also, find something you’re passionate about. When you love what you do, the effort becomes part of the reward. And if you’re ever stuck, just remind yourself: there’s nothing you can’t learn.

"I do a 'build your own' program; you can build a chair alongside me. You come to my shop, use my tools, and I take care of the material."

You can find a selection of Converse's wood pieces, including wood serving boards, at Artisan Cheese Company in the Rosemary District. To learn more about his chairs, click here.