The Process
An Introduction
The process starts long before tools touch wood. It begins with the land—fallen trees, driftwood carried by the river, reclaimed wood once part of something else. These are materials shaped by time, marked by nature’s hand, waiting for a second life.
I don’t cut live trees or harvest lumber. I work with what is already there, what has been left behind. The goal is not to erase its past but to bring it forward—preserving its story, its imperfections, its character – all while using a combination of hand tools and power tools. Every creation is a balance between nature’s design and the craft of human hands, shaped with care, meant to endure.
The Five Steps To Creation
Step 1
Wood With a Past, Ready for a Future
This is where the search begins—walking the land, looking for the right wood. A tree’s history is written in its rings, its grain, its cracks. Some wood is smooth, others are wild and textured. Each piece is chosen for its unique voice, always taking only what nature has already let go.
Step 2
Uncovering the Story Within - First Cuts
Once found, the wood must be prepared—it moves from the wild to the workshop.
It is dried to stabilize, then carefully opened to uncover its patterns and textures. Each cut reveals the grain’s unique character—the marks left by wind, water, and time itself.
This step is about working with the wood, not against it—preserving its beauty while readying it for what comes next.
Step 3
Shaping & Carving - The Transformation Begins
Carving is a conversation. Some pieces reveal deep knots, others soft curves. I don’t aim for perfection—revealing the hidden beauty.
A perfect surface isn’t my goal. The knots, cracks, and irregularities are what give each creation its soul. They remind us that beauty is found in nature’s raw form.
Step 4
Sanding & Refining – The Art of Patience
The form is softened by careful hands, layer by layer. The rough edges fade, but the story remains, polished yet unchanged.
Sanding is where the details emerge. Each stroke refines the grain, revealing depth and texture, shaping how the piece will feel in hand.
This step defines the final experience—not just its look, but its weight, its warmth. The goal isn’t to erase irregularities but to refine without stripping away character.
Step 5
The Final Touch – A Second Life begins
The final touches – sanding and oiling – are always completed by hand. A final coat of oil awakens the wood. The grain darkens, the patterns emerge. A forgotten piece of nature, now something to be held and used.
Every creation I craft carries a journey—of the tree it once was, of the hands that shaped it, and of the stories it will gather in its new home. The process doesn’t end when the piece is finished; it continues with you.