Artist's Statement

The creative process for me is one of self discovery. It can be like swimming in a vast ocean with no land in site.

The technical aspect of designing and building outdoor projects is just as important to me. Working with wood and industrial machinery requires focus and discipline. This focus helps to create a framework, literally a structure, for the more creative side of ideas. This is why working in wood is so satisfying.

Wood itself is a precious commodity that I don’t want to waste. Craftsmanship is about the ability to let the wood shine through the work.  Design should be simple and functional, creating beauty that draws the eye and refreshes the spirit.  Structures should be built to last.  The responsibility is on the maker to honor the source of the creation, in this case, the wood.

I’m drawn to making outdoor structures because the garden, to me, is a sacred place.  I feel a peace there that I don’t feel anywhere else.  I want to build structures that mark this transition between ordinary space and sacred space.  Passageways that reflect and honor the human need to connect to the sacred through nature.