My Work and its History:

In 2013 I began working with cypress by chance. A friend introduced me to the medium and an accessible way to get it and I began to explore ways to form it into different works. I started by making various things including decorative planters and unique yard art, and it evolved into abstracts and eventually into animal forms and 3D pictures. My work represents my love of nature, animals, and my desire to be a part of it.

My Vision:

I enjoy many ways of expressing myself artistically. But overall, I wish to explore how I can deliver my technique and concept of creating art to an audience who appreciates the ocean and nature in general. I strive to have my work show movement and naturalism while not losing the feel of the wood and its beautiful characteristics.

What reaction am I hoping to evoke:

When showing my work or delivering a custom piece, I am looking to evoke a sense of awe at the intricate method of assembling the wood pieces to create the work as a whole. I want whoever is viewing it to feel connected and ultimately to feel the movement. Regardless of what the concept is, I want to give it depth and action to make it look like a freeze-frame of an actual moment in time and for the audience or collector to experience.

My current work in relation to my previous work:

My work has experienced and evolution since its inception. As it has evolved, I have refined my techniques and have been able to hone finite details that elevate each piece above the next to achieve a higher sensation of realism and naturalism than the last.

My place in the current contemporary art world:

New digital mediums and old methods and mediums are being explored by a new generation of artists and I feel I am an example of that. Wood fits in culturally with my family and community being a beach community and spending most days outdoors. My sculptures and scapes connect people to the ocean and the beach while providing the space it is displayed in with a sense of natural beauty from the wood itself.

My place in the history of art:

The history of sculpture dates back as far as 35,000 years ago Germany and through Egypt, Greece, Italy, and so on. Sculptures have been used to worship, depict leaders, express views of nature, and more. So, my work is just that, an expression of my views of nature and the world around me. I like many other artists in history am not looking to become a historical figure, I simply want to create art and share it with like-minded people.

An overview of my work:

My work is derived from the ocean and its surroundings and is consistent in its nature and conception so regardless of what concept I use to create a piece, the fact that it is made out of Cypress, and follows the same source of inspiration ties them together.

Source of inspiration:

The inspiration for the subject matter for every piece comes from the ocean, seascapes, and landscapes that I have observed during my life. Collectors often share intimate knowledge of an event, place, or thing that allows me to tap into what they have experienced and that allows me to apply my experiences to it to add to the concept and creation of the work giving them a direct connection to it rather than just buying random art that may fit their style. It represents something in their lives that inspires me to bring it to life.

My artistic influences:

I am an art enthusiast and enjoy art from all time periods and places. Also being math-oriented, I have been fascinated by mathematicians and their place in the world. Da Vinci, Einstein, Fibonacci, Michelangelo, Picasso are just a few names that come to mind when I am asked who I was influenced by, but moreover, I am mostly influenced by anyone who expresses themselves in a way of expertise. Music, construction, cooking are all expressions of people that I admire and seek to emulate.

My Technique:

My technique is an evolution of experimentation. I started looking for the perfect piece, and then began to break them down, and finally began to sculpt each piece to fit exactly how I wanted it to. As the technique evolved my work became more detailed and the concepts evolved with it allowing me to create a more realistic look to the pieces. This honing of my technique has separated me from artists with a similar medium but who are looking to use whole pieces of wood as I was originally doing. By breaking down the wood I also discovered a whole new element as well. The color, contours, and unique textures on the interior of the cypress give it a completely different look than the worn patina of the aged exterior.

Philosophy of my art and its origins:

I have an appreciation for every form of art and any medium someone uses to create it. Realism, impressionism, abstract, etc. Visualizing something and fabricating it puts you in a vulnerable position to be judged, but it also leaves a “fingerprint” on the world. A legacy. Which I like. I have made it a point to challenge myself physically and mentally throughout my life, so art is just another way of doing that.