“Anacapa”
Private Commission
Birch with Cypress Frame - 5 Layers - 250 Pieces
70” x 48”
When we set out to create this project I knew little about Arch Rock. From research I found that my new muse was a famous rock formation on the East tip of Anacapa Island representing the Channel Islands National Park. This natural archway stands 40 feet above sea level and was formed by hundreds of years of waves and wind carving the soft rock from the middle out. I knew I would have to create a real show stopper to do it justice!
The single most rare and special component on this project has to be the frame. Given the subject matter of this piece and the beautiful area it is meant to represent I couldn’t use just any wood to put the final touch on this project. Through an extensive search of local Central Coast lumber I came across an environmentally friendly lumber mill based out of Santa Barbara. In their inventory was a rare piece of a tree trunk from a large cypress tree (example seen above) that was picked up from Devereux Point (Coal Oil Point) on the UCSB campus. The 100 year old tree had fallen down during a recent wind storm and was saved by Rob and his crew at Local Woods before it was left to rot away. When I found this piece of lumber I jumped in the car and made the 9 hour round trip to pick it up so it could have a final home back in Santa Barbara on the “Anacapa Arch Rock” project!
The “Anacapa Arch Rock” project has the most colors I’ve ever used in a piece of art. With hundreds of pieces to keep track of, 18 different colors spread out over three components, and a combination of oil and water based stains and finishes, I had to create a complex number system to make sure every piece was given the right stain and finish.
Over 300 hours of design and labor went into this project. Around 250 individualy hand drawn, cut, sanded, stained, and finished pieces and around 200 individually placed spacers and 200 pre-drilled, and counter- sunk wood screws came together to create the Arch Rock, Sun, and Pacfic Ocean displayed in this project. With multiple levels of spacing and a hand crafted frame created from native Santa Barbara Cypress this project is definitely a very special piece of art. From start to finish this project received my full attention. I had to dig deep in to my bag of tricks and utilize my ingenuity to make sure everything came out looking perfect. I truly enjoyed the experience and am so thankful for the clients who gave me the opportunity to take the adventure!
“Sun Bar”
Private Commission
Birch - 12 Letters, 4 Suns Spanning 13’ - 130+ Pieces
The “Sun Bar” project was extremely unique . I used 4 handmade fonts over 12 letters, creating 4 of my smallest suns (one for each season) with over 100 individual components, tracking over 10 colors in the stain room, creating a system of hardware and templates that allowed the letters to be placed on the wall efficiently and securely in a small amount of time and space… The list of challenges here goes on but was more than welcome. There is nothing I love more than a challenge and this one pushed my limits. In the end the obstacles were overcome with late nights and some help from my brothers and I think the look of the final project fit the space like a glove!
“Morro”
Private Commission
Birch - 3 layered Components Hung Independently - 200+ Components
7’ x 8’ x 13’ along stairs
“Morro” is the largest project I have completed to date. It was done for an awesome couple who have a vacation home in Cayucos, CA with a beautiful view of the iconic Morro Rock. They wanted a way to incorporate that view into a piece of art and the giant 2 story wall along their stairwell was the perfect place for a massive KD original. I have spent many days in Morro Bay as a young man and was always mesmerized by Morro Rock. The amazing size and beautiful contrast it has against the blue sky and ocean when the sun is out is truly so unique and humbling. While designing this piece, the lines practically spilled out of me as I went through the amazing memories it represented for me. This was a very special piece with some very dear people attached to it and I don’t think I could be any happier with the end result!
“King”
Private Commission
Birch and Wenge - 5 Layers - 300+ components
36” x 48”
As far as detail and complexity in a project goes.. This project takes the lion’s share. All jokes aside, this project was a huge undertaking and I am so proud of how it turned out. Being commissioned for this piece was an amazing experience in and of itself as I met one of the most wonderful, intelligent, and influential clients I have had the pleasure of working with. Being a Leo and graduate of LMU, this client had an affinity for collecting lions, amongst many other things. After the reveal, he placed this project as the focal point of his Lion Room and I couldn’t have been more proud!
For a detailed view of the build out, check out the “Project Timelines” page at the top and click on “Lion Project”.
"The Tree of Life" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Lacewood - 4 layers - 77 Pieces
24” x 24”
I took an entirely different approach to designing The Tree of Life project. I really wanted this design to have a balanced flow from the roots to the branches. I wanted a very organic look to the lines of this project and needed every piece of every branch or root to look like it belonged. In order to achieve this I sat down and free handed the design directly onto the board.
After hours of working and reworking every part of this design I was very happy with the overall look. There were over 50 pieces making up the branches and roots of this tree and a total of 27 tiny leaves. Every one of these pieces were cut, and sanded by hand and layered on a single background piece that mirrored every curve and bend of the tree. I used over 40 aluminum spacers and popped the tree 1/2” away from the base giving it great depth and shadowing.
The color scheme of this project ended up being very complicated to do correctly. There are a total of 5 browns and tans making up the branches and roots of this tree and 3 custom shades of green for the leaves. Every brown or tan was planned so it would not touch another piece of the same color. Using a detailed blue print and a complex number system I was able to accomplish this beautiful color scheme and bring attention to all the amazing detail in this project!
The final touch was a frame made from Australian Lacewood. The grain of this wood has a beautiful vine effect and created the perfect
border for the tree!
“Southern Ground”
Private Commission
Oak, Birch, Pine, and Poplar - 5 Layers
48” x 60”
The Southern Ground project was a collaboration with one of my greatest friends. It was made for a studio owned by an amazing musician in Nashville, TN. The concept of the project was to represent the more country and gritty side of Nashville while spinning an organic, natural look into the design. The writing itself was borrowed from part of the studio’s logo and the rest of the writing I hand crafted from scratch onto the wood. The project is hanging in a track room of the most beautiful space I could have hoped for, Southern Ground Studios. I can only imagine the amount of top-tier musicians who have played their hearts out while it sat overhead!
"The Masai Giraffe" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Wenge - 5 layers - 75 Pieces
24” x 18”
The Masai Giraffe was an exciting project to jump into. The particular challenges on this project were the multiple spots on the neck and face and the many subtle color changes throughout the body and fur of the giraffe. To really focus on the things that make the giraffe so recognizable I decided to use a zoomed in profile view of the neck and face in order to bring detail to the giraffe’s unique markings, hair, and facial features.
From the tiny pieces representing the features of the giraffe’s face to the individually hand crafted spots inlayed in the neck and face, the level of detail in the project is the highest I’ve ever attempted! 45 tiny spots, and a total of about 75 pieces in this project came together to create my version of the Masai Giraffe. To complete the design I decided to add some layers of grassland leading up to one of Africa’s most prominent landmarks; Mt. Kilimanjaro!
To finally bring the Giraffe to life I had to come up with a very complex color scheme. There are so many subtle shades of brown and gold throughout the body of this animal so I needed to layer shades of amber and yellow, with light and dark browns to get a realistic look. I created over 14 different color combinations for this project and I think the end result is a beautiful representation of the markings and colors found on the Masai Giraffe.
Finally a frame made of a medium brown African Wenge hardwood was created to tie all of the colors of this project together and provide a touch of the Giraffe’s country of origin to the project!
"The Humboldt Penguin" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Jatoba - 4 layers - 60 pieces
24” x 24”
The little Humboldt Penguin was a super fun project to work on. The most important design features to focus on were the lines of the penguin separating the contrasting black and white markings, the shape and position of the flippers, and the detail in the feet and face that make this animal so undeniably cute! Because there wasn’t a huge amount of detail in the bird itself, I wanted to create a really detailed background for it to stand against!
After creating the initial lines and layers of the body I focused on getting as much detail in the face and feet as I could. I then switched focus to the background layers of the project and created a rocky effect behind the penguin with a view of the ocean as if it was about to jump in for a swim! All together a total of about 60 individual pieces came together to create this project over 4 layers of depth!
The color scheme for this project was about as simple as could be in comparison with some of the others. I used several layers of the white and black colors to get as much of a contrast as possible on the body and features. I then used some beautiful blue, gray, and natural colors to bring life to the ocean, rock, and beach layers. The woodgrain across the layers of this project became very distinct after staining and gave the final project a sense of flow and coordination! I finished this project with a frame of instrument grade Jatoba hardwood that is found in the same region of South America as the Humboldt Penguin!
"The Chilean Flamingo" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Mahogany - 5 layers - 65 Pieces
24” x 18”
The Chilean Flamingo ended up being one of the more elegant designs of the group. I really wanted to find a view of this bird that showed off the vibrant pinks on the feathers while giving a really detailed view of the distinct neck and bill that make this creature so unique. I settled on a partial view of the body and a full view of the neck and head to do all these detailed areas justice. This was a design that needed to be done multiple times in order to get the right look and I think the end result is a beautiful representation!
The real challenge of this design came in creating the feathered look of the wings. The feathers on the neck and head were so tiny and unnoticable that I felt like the grain of the wood was a better representation of anything I could have created at this scale. The detail around the head and face of the flamingo came out great and the background added a great splash of color and texture while not taking away too much from the main design. All together there were 45 pieces making up the flamingo and 20 long pieces making up the blades of grass in the background!
The color scheme of the flamingo was by far the most demanding of the group. In order to get the 4 different shades of pink I wanted to use to make this bird as vibrant as it needed to be I had to custom mix shades of latex paint and thin them out with a glaze into custom stains. This technique allowed me to get these beautiful pinks while still showing the grain of the wood underneath. The background grass of this design was colored with custom shades of green that really complimented the colors of the flamingo. I finished this project off with a frame of South American Mahogany that really played off of the naturals and pinks in this design.
"The Dyeing Poison Dart Frog" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Brazilian Tigerwood - 6 Layers - 110 pieces
24” x 24”
My personal favorite of the zoo projects and the one I was most intimidated by had to be the Tree Frog! The spots, hands, and colors on this little guy really had my mind stumped. By taking a couple of views of this frog and designing with a full frame view I was able to create a design that really showed off how amazing this creature is up close!
I really wanted to do the Tree Frog justice with the amount of detail put into its body. Equally important was the background scenery to keep the frog to scale when shown at such a close view. I created a detailed leaf system to occupy the negative space and designed the frog to be sitting on a tree branch with a textured bark for its hands to grip onto. There are over 110 individual pieces in this design spread out over 6 layers. The complexity of these layers and the detail they contain were a huge challenge but created an amazing view of the tree frog seen to the right!
With such a detailed and busy design I had to be careful how I added color to the project. I created several mute greens to color the different leaves in the background and used a medium brown to provide color for the branch. The vibrant colors of the frog were dyed with multiple coats to create the brightest yellows and blues possible. The nearly hundred spots on the legs of the frog were handpainted after the blue color was dry. Finally, a frame of Brazilian Tigerwood was added to the design to tie the project together and bring a touch of the Brazilian rainforest to the Tree Frog!
"The African Lion" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Zebrawood - 5 layers - 130 Pieces
24” x 24”
The African Lion was a huge challenge to create. Getting a front view of such a detailed mane and face took a lot of careful planning and no short amount of patience. Due to the symmetrical look of the lion and the complex color scheme I really had my work cut out for me on this one.
After hand drawing, cutting, and sanding the pieces for this project I ended up with the raw view of the lion seen to the right. Over 130 individual pieces of 1/4” birch came together over 5 layers to create the 3D frontal view of the lion. The spacing and symmetry of these carefully designed layers added to the overall realistic look of the design.
The final steps in the creation of this lion came by adding color and a beautiful Zebrawood frame. The mane of the lion contains 5 different shades of stain and the face has 6. These 11 colors working together really brought life to the lion and gave it great intensity and vibrancy. The African Zebrawood frame making it’s way from the lion’s country of origin really tied the project together and put the lion in its element!
"The Golden Lion Tamarin" - Santa Barbara Zoo Series
Private Commission
Birch and Tigrillo - 5 layers - 85 pieces
24” x 24”
The beautiful Golden Lion Tamarin provided some unique design challenges. A more or less consistant color scheme of the fur and an intelligent and expressive human like face needed to be approached carefully to avoid a “cartoony” look to my design. I wanted to focus the detail of this project on the mane and features of the Tamarin’s head and therefore decided to use a closeup view. The mane of the tamarin has a distinctive flow coming from the head and extending outward in long flowy lines. True to my style I wanted to create a detailed design that incorporated the numerous colors and textures found in this animal. The face I kept simple in order to keep the design from becoming too busy but still tried to add emphasis to the large eyes and intelligent expression. For the background I created a complicated tree branch system out of a single piece of birch with 18 little leafs representing new growth in the tree. All together there are about 85 individually crafted pieces occupying 5 layers. The depth and detail of this design can be seen in the raw view of the Tamarin in the photos. The color scheme and frame of this project couldn’t have fit the Tamarin more perfectly! I created 7 custom shades of yellow, orange, and red to create the complex copper colors found in this animal’s coat. Along with the colors in the face and background there were a total of 11 colors used on this small project! The special frame was created from a rare South American hardwood called Tigrillo. The ragged grain and copper colors throughout this wood provided a perfect border for the Golden Lion Tamarin!
"Sunburst"
Gallery Project - Private Collection
Birch - 6 Layers - 2” Spacing - 12 color LED backlighting
48” x 48”
This project was one of the first pieces to come out of my flagship shop/studio. Before this I had worked out of various garages and tested the limits of many neighbors. My brother Justin and I worked more late nights than I care to remember to get this and another large project wrapped up for an upcoming show. We squeaked them out just in time to load up, put on our coats, and head straight to the gallery.
From the subtle gradient in the complex detail of the sun rays to the first installation of a 12 color LED remote controlled backlighting system, this project almost got the best of me.. Regardless, I learned a lot from “Sunburst” and love how it turned out.. Most of all, I loved getting covered in sawdust and stain in the shop with my big bro and know we will collaborate on many more down the road!
"Treedom"
Gallery Project - Private Collection
Oak and Birch - 3 Layers - 1/2” Spacing
70” x 48”
One of my favorite things to do is highlight the wood grain of the materials I use as I know the eye naturally follows these lines. These organic curves can be used as a tool to accentuate a shape and I place a huge emphasis on this part of the process. After a long day of digging through lumber for inspiring patterns I came across the Oak sheet you see as the star of "Treedom". I knew exactly what I wanted to do with this project from the second I saw the board. I came home that night laid the sheet out and started sketching. By the time I was done the rough shape of this project was translated and it fit like a glove. I love the touch of abstract and whimsy the spirals of the roots bring to this project. The whole shape feels balanced and complete and I couldn’t be happier with the end result!
"Vino"
Gallery Project - Private Collection
Birch, Oak, Polar - 7 Layers - 2” Spacing - 15 color LED backlighting
50” x 50”
A bi-product of spending a good amount of time in the Central Valley and Coast of California is an appreciation for wine. Rolling vineyards, boutique wineries, and fine dining permeate the culture of these areas. Having had the opportunity to talk and work with experts in this industry I am struck by the amount of work every bottle of wine takes to bring to market. The time, attention to detail, and determination it takes for every step of the process to line up perfectly and create a complex and palatable end-result is incredible. I believe these traits can be directly applied to my process in woodworking so I couldn’t resist the opportunity to marry these two concepts into a piece of art. Hundreds of hours went into the painstaking detail on this project. Between the remote control backlighting, the lettering, the delicate spines on the grape leaves, and the way the grain plays throughout every component, there were a lot of new concepts introduced on this challenging project. As always I learned so much from the process and hope you enjoy the fruits of my labor!
“Hatch” - Dissected Door Series
Private Commission
Oak Door Segment Wrapped with Oak Frame
14” x 12”
This project was a series of 5 total that I completed for a client in Santa Barbara. He and his family had just purchased an old home to rebuild and got rid of pretty much everything but the original giant oak door. Coming in at around 8’ tall, 3'“ thick and around 200lbs it was a beast of a door that he estimated to be around 100 years old. He wanted to incorporate the door into the new home in a creative way so he handed it off to me and let me do my thing! We ended up with 5 projects that you can see throughout my portfolio: “Open”, “Closed”, “Cellar Door”, “Hatch”, and “Heavy”.
“Hatch” and “Heavy” were the final two projects to come out of the door. They honestly ended up being my two favorite projects from the series because of the tiny details that came together under the guise of a simple design. When I look at these projects and think that they started as a massive old door and ended as these elegant little beauties it truly makes me stoked to do what I do. The door was created from scratch with love by a craftsman around 100 years ago. I hope they would approve of what their work translated into after its initial function was done!
“Dancer”
Private Commission
Birch and Pine - 5 Layers
36” x 36”
This is by far one of the most special suns I have completed to date. After doing my tribal influenced Sol Series, I had moved on from making suns for a while. Low and behold I happened across a new client at a gallery showing who asked if I could recreate one with a more feminine design. I knew it would be a challenge and a bit out of my normal style but I couldn’t have been happier at that time to dig back in to the roots and add my touch to her “Sun Room”. After spending the day with her and her family I created this elegant design focusing on larger eyes, a more narrow nose, and full, shaped lips. I tied it together with a Mexican inspired color scheme of blue, orange, and gold. I also added some special details including a small flowing figure in the sun’s brow as the client had been a dancer as a young woman. It really tied in her story to the overall feel of the project and I loved seeing how much it resonated with her. I am so thankful for the opportunity to work with amazing people in what I do. The art is just a perk to the lasting relationships built alongside these projects!
“Heavy” - Dissected Door Series
Private Commission
Oak Door Segment Wrapped with Oak Frame
14” x 12”
This project was a series of 5 total that I completed for a client in Santa Barbara. He and his family had just purchased an old home to rebuild and got rid of pretty much everything but the original giant oak door. Coming in at around 8’ tall, 3'“ thick and around 200lbs it was a beast of a door that he estimated to be around 100 years old. He wanted to incorporate the door into the new home in a creative way so he handed it off to me and let me do my thing! We ended up with 5 projects that you can see throughout my portfolio: “Open”, “Closed”, “Cellar Door”, “Hatch”, and “Heavy”.
“Hatch” and “Heavy” were the final two projects to come out of the door. They honestly ended up being my two favorite projects from the series because of the tiny details that came together under the guise of a simple design. When I look at these projects and think that they started as a massive old door and ended as these elegant little beauties it truly makes me stoked to do what I do. The door was created from scratch with love by a craftsman around 100 years ago. I hope they would approve of what their work translated into after its initial function was done!
“Open” - Dissected Door Series
Private Commission
Oak Door Segment Wrapped with Oak Frame
84” x 12”
This project was a series of 5 total that I completed for a client in Santa Barbara. He and his family had just purchased an old home to rebuild and got rid of pretty much everything but the original giant oak door. Coming in at around 8’ tall, 3'“ thick and around 200lbs it was a beast of a door that he estimated to be around 100 years old. He wanted to incorporate the door into the new home in a creative way so he handed it off to me and let me do my thing! We ended up with 5 projects that you can see throughout my portfolio: “Open”, “Closed”, “Cellar Door”, “Hatch”, and “Heavy”.
This project,“Open” is one of two entry way pieces. They stand guard on either side of the new door to the home. After I ripped the door vertically and took off some of the header and footer of the door I wrapped 6 of the segments with an oak frame which transformed them into the tall elegant shape they ended up as. Using beautiful coastal blues, greens, and grays, I was able to bring new life to the oak and accentuate the hand scalloped texture that ran throughout the project. I think the end result couldn’t have fit the space better and really loved the creativity and forethought from the client to save this door and keep it as part of the house!
“Cellar Door” - Dissected Door Series
Private Commission
Oak Door Segment Wrapped with Oak Frame - Table
60”l x 12”w x 36”h
This project was a series of 5 total that I completed for a client in Santa Barbara. He and his family had just purchased an old home to rebuild and got rid of pretty much everything but the original giant oak door. Coming in at around 8’ tall, 3'“ thick and around 200lbs it was a beast of a door that he estimated to be around 100 years old. He wanted to incorporate the door into the new home in a creative way so he handed it off to me and let me do my thing! We ended up with 5 projects that you can see throughout my portfolio: “Open”, “Closed”, “Cellar Door”, “Hatch”, and “Heavy”.
This project, “Cellar Door”, was a collaboration with my client’s interior designer to bring the color and texture of the entry pieces inside of the house and incorporate them into the decor. Using a similar color scheme as the entry way pieces I added a sturdy frame and legs made almost entirely of the remaining door pieces. I used the last of the scalloped texture to create a lower slatted shelf which tied everything together. The process was a huge learning experience for me on a lot of levels but I really enjoyed conceptualizing with another creative brain to bring something so beautiful into existence!
“Close” - Dissected Door Series
Private Commission
Oak Door Segment Wrapped with Oak Frame
84” x 12”
This project was a series of 5 total that I completed for a client in Santa Barbara. He and his family had just purchased an old home to rebuild and got rid of pretty much everything but the original giant oak door. Coming in at around 8’ tall, 3'“ thick and around 200lbs it was a beast of a door that he estimated to be around 100 years old. He wanted to incorporate the door into the new home in a creative way so he handed it off to me and let me do my thing! We ended up with 5 projects that you can see throughout my portfolio: “Open”, “Closed”, “Cellar Door”, “Hatch”, and “Heavy”.
This project, “Close” is one of two entry way pieces. They stand guard on either side of the new door to the home. After I ripped the door vertically and took off some of the header and footer of the door I wrapped 6 of the segments with an oak frame which transformed them into the tall elegant shape they ended up as. Using beautiful coastal blues, greens, and grays, I was able to bring new life to the oak and accentuate the hand scalloped texture that ran throughout the project. I think the end result couldn’t have fit the space better and really loved the creativity and forethought from the client to save this door and keep it as part of the house!
"Coastal"
Private Commission
2 layers - Birch - 1” Spacing
24” x "24”
Custom commission for Coastal Radiation Oncology Group on the Central Coast of California. 2 identical pieces were completed for the Santa Maria and Salinas facilities. Such a beautiful flow to this logo, so happy to have these sitting in a place of healing soaking up some photons!
“Horsea”
Private Collection
Birch Base and Driftwood Detail - 2 layers
36” x 18"
This was a fun project I built for a personal gift. I collected driftwood from a local beach in Ventura, Ca and started puzzling everything together from there. Once I had a good shape I built a birch base for the wood to sit on and epoxied everything into place. I love all of the little details on this guy.. From the pinecone eye, the walnut shells running down the nose, and the detail in the spiral tail.. Everything came from the ocean and a good day of exploring the beach. This was truly a labor of love!
"Factory"
Private Commission
3 Layers - Birch - 1/2” Spacing
24” x 24”
This project was commissioned by the owner of a climbing gym in Orange, California called The Factory. In meeting the owner and spending a day climbing with him at his gym I developed a deep respect for the meticulous way he ran his business and the way he was building a community there and throughout California for those who love climbing. Woodworking and climbing share a lot of similar skills; patience, skill, precision, and a willingness to take a little pain for something you love. Much love and respect for Louis and Crew, thanks for taking a chance on me!
“Abstract” in the Sol Series
Gallery Project - Private Collection
5 Layers - Birch and Pine
36” x 36”
"Passion" - Sol Series
5 layers - Birch and Pine
Gallery Project - Private Collection
36” x 36”
"Harmony" - Sol Series
Gallery Project - Private Collection
5 Layers - Birch and Pine
36” x 36”
"Tranquility" - Sol Series
Gallery Project - Private Collection
5 Layers - Birch and Pine
30” x 30”
"Relaxer" - Sol Series
Gallery Project - Private Collection
5 Layers - Birch and Pine
30” x 30”
"Foundation" - Sol Series
Gallery Project - Private Collection
5 Layers - Birch and Pine
30” x 30”
"Trimmed"
Private Commission
Birch - 2 Layers - 1” Spacing
48” x 48”
This was a special project done for a close friend’s father. He owns a company that specializes in trimming Oaks in California. One of my first shows was a small art fair in Shell Beach, CA. He came to my booth wearing a hat that had the spitting image of one of my oaks on it. Turned out to be the logo for his business, and also turned out that he was one of my best friend’s Dad. We got this one done and I couldn’t be happier knowing that it has a very special place in their home. Thanks so much Angie and Jeff!
"Kleen Akers"
Private Commission
Birch and Pine - 5 Layers
36” x 36”
This project was commissioned by one of the most unique and energetic men I have had the pleasure of meeting. Bushwacker took a chance on me very early in my career. He gave me a digital design of his face and gave me creative freedom to come up with a showstopper.. I’ll never forget the look on his face as I dropped it off to his compound “Kleen Akers”. I’m honored to have my work among his collection and thank him for giving me one of my favorite nicknames; “Sunny” Kneeland!
"Roots"
Gallery Project - Private Collection
Birch - 2 Layers - 1'“ Spacing
48” x 48”
The Oak has always had a special place in my heart. This particular piece gives me great memories of learning so much about the foundation, or roots, upon which I started defining my artistic style. One of my core beliefs is that our struggles help to define us and make us stronger.. I think this explains a lot of the affinity I hold for this tree.
"W"
Private Commission
Birch and Bloodwood - 4 layers
24” x 24”
This “W'“ was a quick commission for a great family in Santa Barbara. This was one of the first commissioned projects I got to pull in some hardwood on due to color scheme choices by the client. The red on this frame is the completely natural color of the aptly named Bloodwood, a Brazilian variety of hardwood. It put off an amazing smell of cinnamon every time I cut or sanded it and left bright red sawdust throughout the shop. I had a great time creating this piece and love knowing it is in a great home soaking up the SB sun!
"Peace"
Private Commission
3 layers - Birch - 1/2” Spacing
24” x 24”
This project was created for a gentleman who had overcome some serious obstacles in his life. The Yin Yang was a cultural and visual representation of rising above his struggles and learning to live with a balanced state of mind. I loved working with him to take such a powerful symbol and make it personal to him and his space.
"D"
Private Commission
Birch and Granadillo - 4 Layers
24” x 24”
This “D'“ was a quick commission for a great family in Santa Barbara. This was one of the first commissioned projects I got to pull in some hardwood on due to color scheme choices by the client. The chocolate and black on this frame is the completely natural color of the Granadillo I used. This particular piece of timber was harvested from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It put off an amazing smell of caramel every time I cut or sanded it and left dark brown sawdust throughout the shop. I had a great time creating this piece and love knowing it is in a great home soaking up the SB sun!
