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For
the past 20 years, I have been carving sculptures exclusively
from found wood. It has given me the opportunity to explore
my creativity in carving endless forms and sizes of sculpture.
Most recently, my work has evolved into carving rooted trees
that have suffered weather damage. One of my greatest joys
is releasing something unexpected from this wood so that others
can see it too.
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| This
carved sugar maple was a gift for the Mississaugas of
Scugog Island First Nation. |
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A
closer view of the bear shows how the author created texture
by burning the wood. |
Found
wood can be as simple as a stump from a fallen tree, as complex
as a burl, or as common as a tree branch. It can be as small
as a knot, or as large as a rooted tree.
It's
important to gather found wood in a conscientious manner.
Use care when exploring delicate bioregions in search of wood
sources and remove only what you need—leave the rest to decompose
naturally. Familiarize yourself with endangered and rare species
in the particular area in which you are seeking found wood
and be sure never to upset these. Always ask for permission
to remove found wood from private lands or municipally owned
areas.
Where
to Locate Found Wood
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Farmers'
fields: In the region where I live (central Ontario, Canada),
farmers' fields have proved a great source of uprooted
cedar trees. |
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Local
woodlands: fallen trees. |
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Shorelines:
obviously a good source of driftwood. Look for standing
trees you may be interested in carving. Keeping the root
system intact aids in the fight against shoreline erosion,
and the sculpture adds beauty and interest to the shoreline. |
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Local
arborists can often provide you with, or help you locate,
tree burls. |
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Any
location that has withstood extreme weather conditions.
Look for storm-damaged trees. |
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