Who We Are

Hi, I’m Jason. Owner, entrepreneur, craftsman, next-door neighbor, friend. It’s hard to say where it all began, but here we go. Raised in Pasco, WA I was born into a family of working class folks. My grandfather was the Pasco High School wood shop teacher for 30 years, then my uncle took over his job for the next 30, retiring in 2021, the same year I started Artifex. As a kid, I learned the tools of the trade from my grandfather and my dad in the family shop — and found out what hard work means. We would work weekends remodeling folks homes, cabinets, finishing, roofing, anything that needed done. Soon, I was helping him build our family home. Even though I was young, I was held to the same high standard he held for himself. And I’m thankful for that. Woodworking, building, a high standard, and general hard work, you could say runs in my blood.

Post high school, ready to explore the world, I ran off to college and discovered Mountains. After a few years of pursuing my first passion (sports!) I found myself pursuing a degree in Resource Conservation at the University of Montana (Go Griz!). Using my background in construction to put myself through school as quickly as I could, and delving into the outdoor recreational opportunities of Montana, the years flew by. Working for the US Forest Service, and enjoying the wilderness, fulfilled my longing for adventure for a while, but soon the winds blew West, and I moved to Seattle and dove into the art of Massage Therapy. This field presented a whole new challenge and a new way of working with my hands. It taught me the power of touch, holding space for others, and allowed me to grow my capacity to connect with people. Relentlessly, life pushed me yet again in a new direction, and I moved to Kansas with my partner who was pursuing her Master’s, and landed a job using my woodworking skills. 

The Chair Doctor, or Jim Daniel, as I knew him, taught me how to take apart chairs to their bones, re-weave caning on antiques, and a few of the ins-and-outs of running a small furniture business. The wheels started to turn. Post-Kansas, I paid a quick visit to Colorado and stopped in at Memory Lane Antiques – one of the few full-service antique refinishing shops in existence today.  Meeting Dan for the first time, we got to chatting, and we didn’t stop for four years. Dan Stauss quickly became a friend and mentor in all things antique. From scouting the perfect piece to repairing and refinishing high-end heirlooms, and juggling a storefront at the same time. Soon, 65-hour weeks didn’t seem long at all. Dan gave me tools, the materials, the exquisite furniture that defined long gone eras, challenged my woodworking skills, and piqued my curiosity. Building upon the foundation my own father laid, Dan helped me develop my own talent and expertise, and inspired the confidence to pack up my things and head back north to Montana, and begin my own wood shop.

That brings me to Helena! Like so many folks, native or not to the state, the people and the mountains are alluring. I missed the friendly people around every corner and the warm smile that seems eager to greet you as you meander about Last Chance Gulch. In 2021, I married the love of my life, Kitrina Persson, and we are now settling into The Queen City of the Rockies, making it our home. Come by the shop, our lab-mix Zeb is patiently (or not so patiently) waiting to say “hello.”