As I look back at 2004 it is a year that laid the foundation for who I became as an artist/woodworker.
Moving into my new house, no longer in school and having limited machinery I began to create more "sculptural works" as well as develop what has become the style I have become most accustomed to which is creating works out of single panels of wide wood.
One of the first works made in the second half of that year was "Self Portrait" carved out of basswood. It was mostly improvised and very loosely interpreted with about 3 carving tools at my disposal at the time.
Moving into my new house, no longer in school and having limited machinery I began to create more "sculptural works" as well as develop what has become the style I have become most accustomed to which is creating works out of single panels of wide wood.
One of the first works made in the second half of that year was "Self Portrait" carved out of basswood. It was mostly improvised and very loosely interpreted with about 3 carving tools at my disposal at the time.
The next piece I created was Komposition #1, a reflection on existence.
At the time I only had a lathe for wood turning, a band saw and simple hand tools for carving. I turned a square piece of mahogany on the lathe with 8 rings around the center to represent power, balance and a new beginning. I then cut it up into pieces and rearranged them to create the red sections of the work.
At the time I only had a lathe for wood turning, a band saw and simple hand tools for carving. I turned a square piece of mahogany on the lathe with 8 rings around the center to represent power, balance and a new beginning. I then cut it up into pieces and rearranged them to create the red sections of the work.
The raised black panel represented the protected fetus and the turned fractured "egg" on a spoon represented life and fertility.
The last piece I created this year and maybe the most important to me was :
Stars and Stripes Suicide
Stars and Stripes Suicide
I have had many influences in my life and the attitude and mission of punk music flavored this piece.
It was a commentary on all the things going on in popular culture in America that I just saw a vapid. The figure in the piece is just trying to escape what is being forced upon him.
This piece would represent the first time I purchased a wide single board of mahogany to carve on. Once again at this time I am lacking machinery and money to create more elaborate works so I utilize simple carving tools to communicate my feelings.
The crudely drawn face is exploding from the side of his head with quickly drawn stars that float into an upside down flag showing distress.
As a woodworker it's always tough to be "punk." Most woodwork is polished and meant to look pretty for the consumer. I'm always impressed when I see attitude in woodwork as wood can be a tough material to communicate these feelings through.
It was a commentary on all the things going on in popular culture in America that I just saw a vapid. The figure in the piece is just trying to escape what is being forced upon him.
This piece would represent the first time I purchased a wide single board of mahogany to carve on. Once again at this time I am lacking machinery and money to create more elaborate works so I utilize simple carving tools to communicate my feelings.
The crudely drawn face is exploding from the side of his head with quickly drawn stars that float into an upside down flag showing distress.
As a woodworker it's always tough to be "punk." Most woodwork is polished and meant to look pretty for the consumer. I'm always impressed when I see attitude in woodwork as wood can be a tough material to communicate these feelings through.
