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styles of ornament, whether it is Gothic, Baroque, or whatever,
and I like to reference them in my work. However, I consider
imitation to be weak. I have more respect for originality. I get
inspiration from my immediate surroundings. I love the textures
of the city, graffiti tags, electrical wires, city numbers on electrical boxes, and so on. I see them as ornament in a way. I try to use
techniques and skills that I admire from the past to make pieces
that look like they were made in 2015, not 1715.
You’ve been a Master Carver for decades. What keeps you
excited? What’s new, changing, and interesting in the
world of woodcarving?
Designing and making pieces for myself keeps me excited. I
enjoy experimenting with new techniques and I have recently
been exploring marquetry, which is a very involved and precise
inlaying technique.
The most recent change that has affected woodcarving is
the use of the computer and digital technology. Now there is
the ability to design more efficiently — and often more creatively
— using programs like Photoshop. Also, there are CNC machines
that are used to shape wood. Although there is a great deal of
hideous so-called carving turned out by these machines, I am
interested in their potential and am thinking about getting one
to see how I can use it.
What advice do you have for young artists (or woodcarvers
in particular) who are just getting their start or exploring
the field?
I put a lot of emphasis on design. It’s the aspect of carving that
interests me most. It doesn’t take too long to learn how to use
and sharpen the tools for carving. It takes far longer to understand what makes a good design and how to effectively interpret
that design in wood. A beginner can make a very good carving
from a strong design. However, no amount of virtuoso technique
will save you if the initial concept is weak.
Never lose sight of the fact that you are working in wood. The
design and treatment of the work should always reflect that. If
you are carving a flower, never forget that it is a woodcarving of
a flower, and not a real flower.
Draw a lot, especially from nature.
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