When I was a child our family would sometimes go to visit my great grandmother in Calgary. She lived in an ancient (to me) house that had a staircase that was built of wood. The beautiful grain and the dark rich patina drew me to it. The doors and trim were made of the same material. I loved to run my fingers along the staircase and feel the texture of the wood. I never forgot that touch and I was drawn to the beauty of wood as I walked through life.
I have always been capable with my hands and when I retired I found that I had the time to try different things. I loved the whole world of art but I didn’t have the talent to draw or paint. My wife Ardyce discovered that she did have the talent to do all different kinds of art. I decided that I wanted to learn how to frame her artwork.
We lived in a location on Vancouver Island where I had full access to a woodworking workshop. I would spend hours there learning how to use the tools and making different items. In 2015, I went to the One Tree Exhibition at the Robert Bateman gallery in Victoria. I was amazed at all of the fine art created from just one tree. I decided that this was something that I wanted to do.
The whole world of wood intrigued me. Where did that piece of wood come from? What kind of tree has that grain? Is that tree protected? How difficult is that wood to work with? Do I need to protect myself or from the dust of this wood? As I have become more comfortable with the tools and trees, I have found that I want to share what I have created with others.
I get excited about wood and enjoy the tactile feel of the wood. The way the wood looks and feels brings a sense of calm and peace. I touch the surface and examine the grain enjoying what God has created in this tree. I think about all of the stages that the wood has gone through to end up in this specific piece before me. Where did it come from? How many hands have touched it? How many years did it take to grow? How many different uses could it be used for? Yes, I have personally chosen this piece of wood for this project and I have been selective about size, specific about what I want it to look like. I have used my hands to create each project for others to treasure. I want to create something that will be unique, touched by people, enjoyed and appreciated by generations of family members.