My wood carving process is about discovering what that particular piece of wood would like to express. I use FOG wood (found on the ground) – wood that is heading for chippers, fireplaces, and landfills. Inside every piece there is a story of growth and nature versus bug infestations, fungus and heavy winds. When I listen as I carve the wood on the lathe, the story unfolds. When I fail to listen, I get wood chips and firewood. I have lots of motivation to listen closely!
I lean heavily toward utilitarian art. A rolling pin can be more than just a piece of wood; an art masterpiece can also make a great salad bowl. My finishes tend to be food grade with fewer fine details on food contact surfaces to make for easy clean up.
Biography
I am an engineer and fisherman.. My first pieces were fishing bats and fish releases made from scraps and cutoffs from whatever source was handy. That introduction to wood was the hook. Every kind of wood seems to have a unique combination of aromas, textures, hardness, and grain variety. Those variations combine to make each piece of wood unique. For me, coming from a 20 years of engineering and solid state physics background, the wood carving allows for more immediate and touchable, tangible results. Not to mention allowing the development of a much neglected right side of the brain!
I am currently mentoring my eight-year-old grandson as he begins his journey carving on his own lathe.