My carvings are drawn from historical and natural sources, and from that arena where fantasy and nature meet. Translating inspiration from plants, animals, or surface design into the 3D and dimensionally-constrained raw material of a log so that the carving does not immediately reveal its origin as a tree is an on-going challenge.
I have been creating wood sculpture with a chainsaw since 2000. I am fascinated with the possibilities and the limits of the wood medium; how the log itself contributes to the nature of the final art and how the sculpture both reveals its origins and moves away from its original nature. I use trees that have been removed because of prior damage from construction or weather. Because these are "yard trees" unacceptable to saw mills, the wood would otherwise be lost if not turned into art. Most of the creations that come off my saw have themselves asked to be released from the log; my only purpose is to clear away the wood that’s “not the art” (and add the finish that will preserve the sculpture).
An interest in Celtic imagery (the knot work) and its sources led to Neolithic symbolism, which has turned out to be a rich trove of material for carvings that speak powerfully.
Over the years, my sculpture has broadened to include many subjects, both figurative and abstract. Frustration with the physical and technical limits of log sculpture has led me to branch out ;-) into furniture. In addition, I experiment with other media, creating both vernacular art for the garden and decorative paintings, textiles, and jewelry.