Artist Statement
I have always been curious. This doesn’t really feel like a complete sentence as most people would tell it; however, I am truly curious about everything. In my shop I dabble in a lot of different mediums regarding my art such as glass, metal, ceramics, and wood, but also love to experiment with other things such as all types of kinetic energy, alternate energy and processes that can help me learn or help create new art. Consequently, my shop is not just a woodshop you may see on a YouTube channel; rather an eclectic gathering of learning tools and devices.
In contrast to many other artists, I have no stories for the pieces I create. Truth be told, I have gotten some backlash about this over the years, but from my perspective, I have no right to lead you to a conclusion. Art is something different to everyone I feel. If a piece I created can take you on a journey and draw out feelings, or give you a glimpse of inspiration, then I have done my job.
As I love to say to family and friends, if you need me, “I am going SHOPping!”.
The first time I remember working with wood was with my grandfather in is very small garage in a coastal house in California. He was retired and wanted a hobby. The clock itself was a “kit”. I was probably seven or eight at the time and wow was this cool! It was a 3-dimensional puzzle; fascinating.
Throughout my High School years my electives were always wood shop or construction. These classes weren’t just about learning to work with my hands. On a higher level, I learned to trust myself and work through problems with creative solutions; my fear of “I don’t know how to do that” truly became mantras of “others can do this, why not me?” and “How can I be more creative?”.
For the last 35 years, the enjoyment of my shop has grown. New techniques, new tools, new options and most importantly, new art make my soul happy. None of this could be possible without the support of my fans, my friends and most importantly my wife who inspires and supports me.
If you have any interest in learning new techniques or are new to the wonders of shopwork, I would love for you to come spend some time with me! Send me an email and let’s see what new things we can create!
I certainly hope my work brings happiness to you the way it does to me.
-Jason
