Crystal Imery
Hi, my name is Crystal, and I create handcrafted wood murals. My art is inspired by three things: motorcycles, nature, and animals. Although they may seem worlds apart, they are the three things in life I am deeply passionate about. Using a Pegas scroll saw and Razertip pyrography tools, I handcraft detailed, dimensional wood art that brings each subject to life.
When I was 17 years old, I started road racing motorcycles with my family. I spent the next 10 years traveling the United States and racing at different racetracks every weekend. From racetracks across much of the East Coast, with a few adventures into Canada along the way, I saw America from behind the visor of my racebike.
While I no longer race, I am still an avid street rider. But now, I see things through a different lens. I stop at overlooks and watch the birds flying by. I find little coffee shops along my rides and notice the trees, mountains, and landscapes around me. This feeling—this connection to nature while on two wheels—is something that is hard for me to express with words. But with images, with expressions thru wood art, I am able to share the inexpressible.
My other two passions, nature and animals, have been part of my life since I was a child. I adore all animals—reptiles and insects included. I have slowly created a small menagerie of forever pets at our home. Visiting us can feel a little like visiting a small zoo. You might be greeted by one of our many ducks looking for snacks, see our very large tortoises soaking in their pools, hear our chickens, be greeted by our two very spoiled dogs, or pass our bee hives that are home to over 50,000 bees.
I could sit and draw my animals for hours. That is part of why I love creating wood art. Through my work, I can share what I see when I watch them—their expressions, personalities, movement, and all the little details that make each animal unique.
So how did I get into wood art?
I was inspired by my husband’s love of woodworking. He was a hobby woodworker for many years while we lived in Florida. In 2024, we moved to Virginia, where he built a 1,200-square-foot woodworking shop—and voluntarily gave me a small section of it.
With a little corner to call my own, I began exploring what creative paths I could pursue there. That exploration eventually led me to scroll sawing and pyrography, or wood burning, and I fell in love with the possibilities of creating art from wood.
And this is where my story is today. I’m still exploring, still learning, and still finding new ways to bring together the things that have inspired me throughout my life.
Thank you for visiting my artist site and following along as I see where this journey takes me.
My Philosophy
My work begins with a connection to the natural world. I believe wood is more than a material—it is part of the artwork itself. Every piece has its own grain, color, texture, and imperfections, and rather than covering those qualities, I want them to become part of the story.
Through scroll sawing, pyrography, and traditional woodworking techniques, I create dimensional wood murals inspired by wildlife, nature, and the experiences that have shaped the way I see the world. I prefer the natural colors and character of different wood species, allowing the material itself to create depth, movement, and contrast.
I also want my work to celebrate the place I call home: Virginia. Whenever possible, I prefer to create with wood that we have milled and dried ourselves. There is something meaningful about knowing where the wood came from and allowing a piece of the Virginia landscape to become part of the finished artwork.
My philosophy is simple: work with the wood, not against it. I want each piece to celebrate both the subject I am creating and the tree that made it possible. My goal is to create art that feels organic, imperfect, and alive—something that carries a little piece of the natural world with it.