As a second generation artist, I believe that the first steps I took were across a bed of sawdust. I was drawn to my grandfather and his art. I wager my grandfather soon came to regret my interest as I would come to be constantly underfoot.
As a student of design, I carry on the mantle of creation and making. I make use of the skills that were imparted to my, while working hard to continually explore, develop, and tell my own stories.
I call our technique Wood Cloisonné. I start by collecting woods off my Appalachian home place and completing a wood turning. I then treat that turning as a canvas to inlay designs of my choosing. By inlaying each piece of wood (usually which has been wrapped in thin metal) I am able to tell a story that features elements of both nature and me.
I hope you value my work, not only for the craftsmanship, but also for the stories each piece tells.