ABOUT THE BOWLS

What is it about a bowl that’s so compelling? It’s one of mankind’s oldest shapes, simultaneously primitive and sophisticated. Every bowl I make is conversation with a tree. Because every tree is unique, every bowl is, too.

My initial chainsaw cuts reveal the nature of the wood, from burls to bug trails to contrasting colors between heartwood and sapwood. When the log goes on the lathe, I carve through the rings with my chisels, each ring a year gone by. Each layer is a discovery, and those discoveries inform the shape of the bowl. The form evolves as I work—I go where the wood leads me.

Because I sculpt while the wood is green and full of moisture, it continues to change shape as it dries. I am usually surprised and delighted by the forms that emerge: low bowls, ruffles, wobblers, burly treasures, buckets...

Organic forms which are as satisfying to touch as they are to look at.