My Art...
Since I was a young child old enough to hold a crayon, I created art. I never had any formal art training but whether I was working in oils, stained glass, or textiles, I was always creating.
While teaching high school foreign languages, I came across a newly carved piece of folk art in the mid 1980s and thought, "I can do that". I left teaching behind in 1990 and never looked back. Since then, I've created over 8000 carvings. The rest, as they say, is history.
The carvings you'll see in my web gallery are all original. Each is carved individually, one at a time, by me, without the use of power tools. My "wood of choice" is cedar, but I'll also use wood that I find and appeals to me...oak, cherry, apple, black walnut, and others. Cracks and knotholes natural to the wood are always incorporated into the finished carving.
I use wood chisels, X-acto knives, hammers and larger molding chisels for oak and other hardwood pieces. When I'm satisfied with my carving, I hand paint, sand, and finish the piece. If I feel a holiday carving needs a snowy, icy glow, I'll use either antique mica or imported German glass glitter to finish the carving. I've also used vintage German lametta tinsel to highlight a Santa's cloak.
With beauty and inspiration all around me, I especially enjoy vintage Christmas and Halloween postcards and ephemera for inspiration.
Kudos
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Credits
NorthShore Chicago December 1999
Better Homes and Gardens October 1999
Figurines And Collectibles September/October 1998
Early American Homes December 1997
Country Living Holidays December 1996
Country Accents November/December 1996
Midwest Living October 1996
CNN International 1996
Chicago TV - "Someone You Should Know" 1996
Country Living October 1995
Better Homes and Gardens October 1999
Figurines And Collectibles September/October 1998
Early American Homes December 1997
Country Living Holidays December 1996
Country Accents November/December 1996
Midwest Living October 1996
CNN International 1996
Chicago TV - "Someone You Should Know" 1996
Country Living October 1995
Daily Herald - Chicago Suburban September 2013/September 2014
Naples Daily News December 2012
Celebrate 365 Winter 2009
Celebrate 365 Fall 2008
Country Sampler Fall and Winter 2008
Land's End Catalog 2006
Woodcarving Illustrated Fall 2006
Country Sampler September 2006
Wisconsin Trails/November/December 2005
Land's End Catalog 2005
Country Living/October 2004
Better Homes and Gardens Santa Collection 2003 (Vol. 5)
Country Accents February/March 2001
Chicago Home and Garden Winter 2000
Country Living October 2000
Naples Daily News December 2012
Celebrate 365 Winter 2009
Celebrate 365 Fall 2008
Country Sampler Fall and Winter 2008
Land's End Catalog 2006
Woodcarving Illustrated Fall 2006
Country Sampler September 2006
Wisconsin Trails/November/December 2005
Land's End Catalog 2005
Country Living/October 2004
Better Homes and Gardens Santa Collection 2003 (Vol. 5)
Country Accents February/March 2001
Chicago Home and Garden Winter 2000
Country Living October 2000
"Featured Artist" Folk Art Festival September 2000