About the Artist – FAQ
What is your inspiration?
"My inspiration comes from my own life experiences as a husband, father and grandfather; and from the examples of people like Mr. Fred Rogers. Fred Rogers set an example, not only for children who were his primary focus, but also for adults. In an uncertain world, his authentic voice told us there is power and strength in gentleness and simple kindness. I share this philosophy. The messages of my sculptures are witness to the strength of such feelings."
How is your art different?
"My art is unique in several ways: 1) the sculptures communicate thoughtful messages. 2) they have delicate, aesthetically pleasing forms, and 3) they are made with care and skill to achieve the highest quality."
Do you have formal art education or training?
"I’m entirely self-trained in art. I have a BS degree in engineering and an MS in systems management."
How long have you been doing art?
"For over 50 years, creative design has been a vital part of my professional life as an engineer, systems designer and, now, as an artist. I started direct carving of wood figures in 1971 as a hobby and became a full-time sculptor in 2004."
Do you bend the wood to form the ribbons?
"The wood is not bent. To make a wood sculpture, I cut a long, thick plank into several pieces the same length as the planned sculpture. These pieces are glued to form a large block. The sculpture is then carved directly from the large block using both hand and power tools."
What is a mobius loop?
"If you make a simple loop by joining the ends of a strip of paper it will have two surfaces, an inner and an outer surface. If you make another loop, but put a half twist in the strip of paper before joining the ends, it would be a mobius loop having only one surface. Any odd number of twists will result in a one-sided mobius loop."
How are the bronze scuptures made?
"I make a full size maquette (or model) of wood and plastic resins. I then work with an art foundry to cast the sculptures in bronze, using the lost wax process."
How long does it take to produce a sculpture?
"There are many variables that affect the duration, such as the sculpture’s size, material used and work backlog. In general, a medium size sculpture requires 4 to 8 months."
Do you take commissions for special orders?
"I would be happy to discuss a commission for any challenging application, large or small."