FAQ

I generally use two varieties of wood. For sculptures, I use sustainably sourced cottonwood bark, harvested from fallen trees. Cottonwood bark is unique in that it is relatively soft and layered, somewhat like an onion, such that carving curves into the wood (like noses and eyes) brings out beautiful patterns in the grain that highlight contours. I order my cottonwood bark from a family owned specialty woodcarving shop in Canada. For smaller carvings and whittles, I use basswood blocks, which are a popular choice for woodcarvers because they are soft and friendly to work with. Because basswood is generally straight-grained, it is easier to create repeatable patterns and more consistently reproduce character carvings.

Commissions are currently closed but planned to reopen in Summer 2025, subject to availability. (Please note that commissioned pieces may be priced significantly higher than non-commissioned work. There are several reasons for this, including the time it takes to craft a design to fit a suitable piece of wood and the process of iterating on work while studying any reference photos, if the concept is not very flexible or any strong likeness is desired. Most of my work is designed somewhat fluidly during the process of carving, depending on how the wood reacts as more of the grain is exposed. There are always surprises. Additionally, there is an opportunity cost associated with doing commissions that leaves artists with less time to build collections for art fairs and festivals, which can keep an artist from being able to participate in events - leading to potential lost sales opportunities and exposure. Purchasing commissioned work plays a vital role in sustaining artists. Thank you for considering!)

I don't finish any of my woodcarvings with outdoor sealant, so please keep them indoors to keep them safe from the elements.

For my cottonwood bark sculptures, I don't use any sealant, but I "finish" them with a treatment of Howard Feed-N-Wax, which is a wood polish conditioner that enhances the natural beauty of the grain. This provides the wood with conditioning oils (like orange oil) that help it from drying and fading as well as a protective coating of beeswax and carnauba wax. I also use Howard Feed-N-Wax as the finishing treatment for basswood carvings after painting with acrylic paint.

I finish most of my cottonwood bark wood sculptures with a light coat of wood polish conditioner called Howard Feed-N-Wax. When kept indoors, they should be long lasting heirlooms. I will lightly brush carvings with a clean and dry toothbrush or shoe brush to remove any visible dust. It's best to keep them away from direct sunlight as the wood may fade. I suggest reapplying Howard Feed-N-Wax every year or so to condition the wood and enhance the grain. Please note that this will slightly deepen or darken the color of the wood (see above), which is expected.

I recommend specialty carving knives like those from Flexcut tools, which are beginner friendly and reasonably priced. Flexcut has a good starter set, and all you need is one sharp knife for whittling. A strop to keep your knife sharp is a must-have, because a sharp knife is a safe knife. I also recommend a good set of carving gloves, which will save you from cuts (but not jabs, so good form is essential.) I like NoCry gloves in particular. Basswood blocks and 1" x 1" x 12" 'practice sticks' are easy to hold and friendly to work with. I order mine online from specialty woodcarving stores.

YouTube is a great resource for beginner woodcarvers- I learned a lot about carving basswood characters by watching YouTube tutorials, mainly from Doug Linker. No "talent" required - just persistence and patience. You can find great patterns and tutorials from Woodcarving Illustrated magazine and their collection of book publications.

I am not currently teaching open public classes but will announce any plans on my mailing list and my Instagram. Please contact for inquiries on private group workshops or demonstrations, which I generally host at the Indiana Artisan shop and gallery in the Carmel Arts and Design District.

I know, me, too. My formal background is in science (PhD in Astronomy), tech (data science and AI at software startups), and business innovation (Federal government tech transformation and corporate new ventures.) If you are an employer in the tech industry or are generally looking for opportunities to help prevent burnout in your employees, I can work with you on offering creative wellness through my "Crafting Wellness" workshops, a unique and friendly experience for your next corporate event or team activity with options for demos and/or hands-on experiences. We'll engage with your group on the benefits of art and artisan hand work, finding ways to better care for your mental health, and why and how to put the devices down and start playing with sticks and knives. Please contact for more info and scheduling availability. For more about me and how much fun we'll obviously have, check out my partnered Instagram post with Flexcut Tools for the March Meet the Maker campaign...