Well…here we go…my first ever blog post. I’m Wayne Wise. Since 1986, most folks know me as an announcer in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Prior to that, I rode bulls for 11 years, 5 of which were professionally. However, through it all, there was the common thread of leather working. I started in 4-H as a young kid, and in high school worked in the local saddle shop. Although the leather work was fun, I aspired to be a big time rodeo hand.
Fast forward a bit to 1986 when I discovered a hidden talent with announcing. It took a couple of years, but I finally realized that I was getting paid EVERYTIME I announced a rodeo as compared to rarely when I was entered in the bull riding (truth be told, I couldn’t ride a stick horse thru Wal-Mart most of my career). I decided my niche in the rodeo world was to be a big time rodeo announcer. That worked out alright for a while, but I never developed the knack for “playing the political game” that apparently was required to become that “big time rodeo announcer”. Although I have, and continue to work, some very prestigious events, it was clear I wasn’t going to be that “famous” rodeo announcer I thought I would be.
Then, in the mid to late ‘90’s, I met a man named Clint Haverty form Krum, TX who sat down with me at a horse show I was announcing and showed me the flow of Sheridan Style Carving. Although it took me quite some time, I finally “saw” it, and then began obsessively drawing circles and flowers. I’d draw circles and flowers watching TV, announcing events, in the hotel room after events, and sometimes even in places I shouldn’t be drawing at all. After drawing literally thousands and thousands of circles and flowers, I began putting those drawings on leather.
Fast forward again to December of 2020. I had a customer who needed a saddle repaired, which I was able to do easily. I told the customer the price after finishing the repair, and she asked if I was willing to barter. Being an ol’ rodeo vagrant, I asked what she had in mind. She said she would pay me half of the repair in cash, and would trade a bull skull for the other half. She said she’d seen my tooling, and was sure I could cover a bull skull in leather and carve it, and make something spectacular. I agreed, and the rest as they say is history.
My original leather business, Double U Leather LLC, now had expanded to Bullskullz.com. I got this website, opened a new Instagram page and Facebook page, and have been accepted into one of the world’s largest and most prestigious Western Art Shows in the world…the Western Design Conference.
Looking back at where I came from, I can CLEARLY see God’s thumb print all over my life’s path. He has literally guided me every step of the way to where I am now. Although most of the time I was oblivious to what He was working with me towards, I can now see clearly how He has had it all mapped out since the beginning of time. Bottom line is this…the talents I have aren’t mine, they’re simply gifts I’ve been given. And I’m forever grateful.