My passion for wood as a material was born when I discovered how to reflect the inner beauty that I saw in a raw piece of wood onto its surface so that its coloration, texture, grain, striation and form could be fully appreciated. The woods I work with come from a combination of locally fallen or cut trees and raw wood imported from countries around the world, and each piece of wood, with its unique shape, intuitively guides me through my carving. Wood is a living medium of natural wonder and timeless beauty which invokes in us feelings of calm and groundedness. I try to accentuate the material’s natural color and form, often highlighting characteristics in the wood that others might consider flaws. Assisted by the use of multiple power carving tools, hand rasps and sandpaper, each piece attains its finalized form. The finishing process can take as long as the sculptural process, beginning with hand sanding and ending with oil and wax to smooth the wood and bring out its color. Each new piece is an experiment in abstracting and refining rough pieces of wood to lend them movement, form, and eternal life as art objects.