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GENETICALLY CLONED AND SLIGHTLY ALTERED ROCKING BUSHEEP I saw an opportunity to create works for an exhibition called Dysfunctional Furniture. The concept of making some sort of child's rocker was in my head which then turned to making an ode to the current President George Bush and his stance on cloning.  I created the two Busheep out of walnut and maple, with painted maple/copper handlebars and zebrawood appointments.  I was really happy at how clean these works came out an

The 2007 theme for the Esherick show was peppermills. I wanted to enter two works into the show, one fun and one more serious. ​The first work I created was off based of a poem I wrote called The Captured Soul. As a lover of anatomy, I wanted to incorporate the heart as an object that had been dissected to have the soul removed, resewn and transform into a flourishing object encased in an atrium. The soul was represented in a small carving lying next to the heart. I turned th

2008 is a significant year as it was the beginning of carving outdoors around Philadelphia. For me the ability to create in the energy of outdoors has become a major factor in my art. The first work I created was "powerless". Carved from a single piece of 4" thick X 6" wide mahogany this work was a direct reflection of emotions I was going through. Falling out of love, hopeful, missing love, wondering and feeling powerless. Every time I create a work my intentions are to take

The theme for the 2008 Esherick show was side chairs.I was excited to make a chair and began to contemplate/sketch ideas. If a concept would pop into my mind at work at Ibanez guitars sometimes they were sketched on the back of warranty cards like the two original sketches for structures and is your heart free? The first work Structures was designed to create a functional art chair that seemed nonfunctional and would make the person leery about sitting in it but still be very

The first work I completed in 2009 was Some Days I Own the World and Some Days the World Owns Me, basically a self-portrait in begging dog form. I designed him to be a hybrid animal mixing a Chihuahua with the Chupacabra or as I called him a Chupachihuahua ​One of the features I love about this piece are the deep black ebony eyes I turned on the lathe. The next piece was I wish you were here with me (right now). This work is a deep contemplative/introspective work. One of the

The theme for the 2009 Esherick show was stepstools. Sadly, this piece was created as a direct reflection of the loss of my Nan as well as other stuff happening that year.  It seemed that life was throwing obstacles my way any time I was trying to take a first step forward so I designed It's Been That Kind of Year. The steps were made out of a naturally yellow wood called yellowheart with the banana peel carved into the first step The structure holding the steps made from mah

2010 becomes my most productive year as a pure artist. I had lost my job that I held for 11 years and was going through many emotions.  At this time the economy was very poor and jobs were scarce. It was a struggle to hold onto my home, but I fought and most important survived while trying to stay as positive and hopeful as possible. My art became my refuge. Creating these works requires 100% attention as just in chess every move is important. These works were 100% hand carve

While at my brother's house my mom asked if I knew what I was making for the Esherick exhibition on Desk Accessories yet. I knew I wanted to make a pen of sorts when my mom said she really liked the large pepper carving I made earlier in the year titled A Mother's Wisdom. As the conversation continued it was her idea to create a pen the shape of a jalapeno pepper. I added the soft "cloud" hugging the pen and so was born my 2010 submission for the Esherick: I wanted to the pen

2011 sees a good mix of abstract as well as realistic creations for me with the standard kept of only using hand tools in my work. The first work was based around  reimagined hanger design. As I take influences from so many places, I feel it's best sometimes to take a more simplified from the heart John Lennon approach to my work as seen in the first work. ​ introverted The challenge of this work was keeping a consistent roundness to the shape of the work.  The next piece was

I was really excited to find out Clocks was the theme for the 2011 Esherick show. Continuing on with the theme of "Abstract Anatomy" I designed this clock to be a functional art piece. It was the first time I used a two-inch-thick mahogany single panel to create a work out of. Walking into my grandparents' house who were antique dealers/collectors you could help but be surrounded by clocks of all manners. I was excited to put my own unique spin on the form. ILLUMINATE (the mo

The first completed work of 2014 was..... ​UNDEFEATED  I consider boxing to be one of the great artforms and approach my art the same way. I wanted to create a simple piece that defined me. After UNDEFEATED I created an improvised piece. To be a good improvisor is to be a great thinker, feeler, reactor. To see many steps ahead but always react to what is going on in the situation. The ability to improvise can only be developed by doing. I took a two-inch block of poplar witho

2015 begins to see the shift into one of my mains concentrations of creating unique handmade mirrors although the first piece was a carving called LALA. LALA is my reimagining of Michelangelo's Pieta. One of the things I love about LALA is that starting at the center part then beginning to focus around the work will create a flutter effect as the work vibrates. This piece becomes the second time I revisit the use of scrolls in my work. I always hand draw my scrolls as I want

I was trying to design/create a work that captured a time period in my life where I had very little money, but it never entered my thoughts as I was incredibly happy.  I called this period "LIFE ON HOLD", simply living in the moment. The fun of the creation process is not knowing what will evolve whether it could be abstract or known. I was at the bar having some very discounted drinks on a Monday night with a lifelong friend who was bartending. I was down to my very last dol

PORTRAIT OF HOPE This piece is meant to radiate energy/hope. It is symbolic of life, birth and the power of existence. It is another carving I made that starts to trick the eye into motion if you stare at certain places then refocus around. I began this carving in 2015 but would work on it then of give up on it many times. One of the things I've learned is that when I put a piece aside when I return to it, I have become a better artist/thinker and can figure out what really n

I'MMORTAL is derivative off of a series of wall mirrors I began creating in 2016 with the viewer placing their eyes into the skull and questioning AM I MORTAL OR AM I IMMORTAL? Hand carved from a piece of poplar it was a fun challenge carving the angles to create crisp  geometric patterns that change as the viewer moves around the work. At the time I planned on creating a series of decorative skulls like this but sadly have not had the time yet to revisit. ​BIENVENIDO #5 (pie