About Me and My ART
As an arborist and artist with a life-long love for the natural world, woodturning has provided me with the ability to creatively explore and share my passion for nature. Combining turning with my other interests has empowered my to develop a unique voice.
I collect the wood I use for turning from trees and limbs that I remove through my job as a certified arborist, which has allowed me to experiment with dozens of different species. I believe a thorough understanding of the properties and characteristics of wood opens the door to new possibilities for creative expression.
Artist Statement
Through my art I try to convey my love for the natural world as well as explore the role I play in it. I focus on often overlooked, but essential, elements of the ecosystem, especially the decomposers and recyclers. To me, these organisms represent the doorway from death back to life and are the key stone for healthy ecosystems. I attempt to balance the unease that these subjects can induce with beauty in order to provoke fascination and curiosity. My creative process mirrors the subjects of my art by utilizing wood that would otherwise be considered waste as my medium for creation. I strive to understand the qualities of wood and incorporate the unique characteristics of each species into the composition. I hope that my work compels the viewers to recognize the wonder and importance of the natural world and consider the impact they have on it.