My inspiration as a sculptor is a combination of many facets of my life. I was raised in New England on a portion of a family farm dating back to the eighteenth century. My father and grandfather had a large influence on my life. They were hands-on builders and makers of many things from stone walls to houses to furniture, as well as avid outdoorsmen and self-taught naturalists. As a child, building, drawing and making things came naturally to me and were greatly encouraged. Being raised as close to the land as the mid-twentieth century would allow, as well as being raised by hunters and fishermen, an early and passionate interest in the Native Americans who preceded us on the land was awakened. Over time, this interest matured into a larger interest in history, particularly American history, and just simply the amazing and grand adventure of it all. Later, going to Arizona State University, although my major was in Construction Engineering, my fascination with the American West was further stimulated.
Over the past thirty plus years, I have been a building contractor doing much of the custom work, particularly stone work myself. I started sculpting in the late seventies when I became intrigued with working in clay while helping my son with a school art project. With the exception of some community college drawing classes, I am a self-taught artist. Using the cultural and political forces that make history as a backdrop, I like to imagine individuals in specific situations and tell their stories through sculpture. It is the individual stories of people, struggling in natural environments, that most fascinate me.
The satisfaction I get by building and creating things with my hands, united with my interest in natural history and the experiences of individuals coping in a natural world, make sculpture an ideal medium for me to tell these stories.