For the past few years I have been involved with various things other than carving concrete. One exception is the carved planting enclosures and steps below, and a flurry of activity making some medium and small planters in 2019. Otherwise I and have spent very little time in the studio and most of my opportunities to make anything has been during the workshops. Recently I have started to produce some new work and intend to do more during the winter of 2023 – 24.
The piece below is typical of a demonstration piece from a workshop.
Years ago I was teaching at the Chicago Botanic Gardens and a man from Boston flew in to take my workshop. At the time The Botanic Gardens had some complementary rooms at the Marriott Hotel close by and that is where we each were staying. We would have breakfast together and ride to the workshop.
He had carved a couple of dozen things on his own before the workshop and was eager to learn more about the technique. The last day we were having breakfast together and I asked him, "Well, what did you learn?" He replied that, "Before I always thought that I was finished after making a piece. But I now see that there was a lot more refinement that was needed to bring the work to its completion."
When I first started carving I was not aware of this push for refinement or even how to achieve it. I was delighted with most everything I was making because even without a polished surface everything still looked good. Slowly through the years I paid more attention to detail and surface quality and discovered how to consistently get the best in the endeavor. Anyone taking the workshop will learn how to achieve this in their creation.
