When I was a boy, I loved Legos™. I had a tub full of them that was a collection of all of the kits I had gotten over the years. I would build each kit to instructions, but slowly the pieces and parts would make their way into the general bucket and other future constructions. The joy of having hundreds of blocks available for whatever I wanted to make was thrilling.

I paused making art in college, and spent some time making computer software until I realized I wasn’t made to sit behind a desk. I wanted to make physical things. Whim took me to Maine to build boats. While we used LOTS of epoxy and manufactured fibers, I mostly loved working with the wood frames. Thus, wood boats led to a study of woodworking in general, which led to cabinetry, furniture, housewares and trim and finish carpentry.

I have the greatest feeling of hope and potential when surrounded by quantities of unique and diverse materials and a clear space to work with them. For many pieces, I pick a piece of wood and then let it help me decide what will best showcase its qualities. Any surface where a finger might venture should be interesting to touch. I like to leave texture and certain tool marks so a surveying hand can be certain the item is human-made. 

While I’m “materials-forward”, the form of an object must work well with them. Wood grain should enhance the design and not be distracting. Modern materials (epoxy, plastics, heavy finishes, shiny metals, etc.) have their place, in the background, providing structure and facilitating shapes. More recognizable and warmer natural materials (wood, leather, ceramics, matte-finished metals, etc.) keep most of the focus. Reclaimed materials present a special challenge when used in a new project. They tend to require more time and patience to incorporate, but they also have more “story” than new materials. Man-made materials begin to take on a unique personality once they’ve been time-worn and survived to live on in another creation. 

If this ethos appeals to you, please drop me a line. I would love to talk.