In planning my open studio last fall, I pulled out all my incomplete work and rediscovered this long forgotten unfinished basswood carving. This past January, it called to me and I decided it was time to push it over the finish line for an exhibition in March.

The unfinished sculpture as it had looked for at least five years – roughly carved on front and one side.

Beginning again.

Carving and penciling in new leaves

Stray leaves drawn, erased, and redrawn

First sanding of backside

Can you see all the small details still in need of fine tuning? Getting this right takes a while but makes all the difference in the final piece. I do this outside under bright sunlight rotating the piece back and forth making the flaws much easier to see and correct.

Raised grain after first clear coat

Looking smoother after sanding the first of many coats of clear matte polycrylic

Finally finished and titled ELEMENTS. (angled front and partial side view)

(side view – notice the metal rope cleat feet)

(top/front view)

(back/side view)

Price $300 (plus shipping)

Exhibit handout:

Text from the handout:

This block of basswood, once part of a living breathing tree, has taken on a new life as a work of hand-carved wood.

As an artist with a deep reverence for trees and nature, I try to express this depth of feeling in my work as a way of honoring the life of the tree. In my studio practice, I explore organic shapes, symbolism, and how light settles in and around my carved forms.

People sense different things in my work such as fire and leaves, or ripples from wind and water, or the slow passage of time in the woodgrain.

What do you see?

Questions/Comments welcome…

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