Mahogany 20044 Sculpture

I was born and raised in Miami Beach and have been living in Miami, Florida for most of my life. I began turning wood as a hobby in 2009. I loved the idea of taking a simple chunk of wood that was headed for the wood chipper and turning it into a beautiful and functional work of art. Every piece of art that I create was made from a piece of salvaged local wood, trees that have been cut down or fallen from a storm. I began using colored epoxy resin to enhance and complement the beautiful grain of the wood. On a trip to Barcelona a few years ago, I was inspired by the stained glass windows at the magnificent Sagrada Familia. My bowls have the luminescent element of stained glass entwined with gorgeous wood. The bowls glow when light shines through and are especially impressive when placed in front of a window or lit from within by a candle. I developed a 13 step process, which allows me to turn one solid piece of wood, never separating the grain from its natural position. The process ends with hours of sanding, resulting in a flawlessly smooth finish. All of my pieces are then finished with a food -safe beeswax/ mineral oil combination. These pieces are intended to be used as well as admired.