The Beginning - Walking the Wood

Debbie’s View-The Beginning

Preface: Ken and I met back in the early nineties, he was finishing a custom home and had convinced the buyer that an exterior sculpture would be a great addition. They decided on eagles and he spent several months creating two life-size eagles from redwood perched on a spiral exterior staircase with an eagles nest. I met him for lunch frequently on the site and during those times we planned for a future in art. I was a resort manager with business and marketing background, we both had children in their teens.  We created a rough outline of a business plan with goals and expectations and as soon as the boys were off to work and college we sold the house, ventured to Idaho and began our journey in art.

Nesting Eagles - Truckee, California

As Ken begins a new wood sculpture, I look at the raw form of wood with so many questions. I have learned (and continue to be reminded) that it’s better to keep quiet and just watch the subject emerge because there are no answers, only exploration. So quietly I photograph the sculptures in various stages and angles. Don’t let anyone tell you that there are only four sides to wood or a sculpture.  Just when I think I found the best angle of a sculpture, another emerges. Remember, it is all about exploration.

There are no concrete plans when Ken begins a sculpture, he may do rough sketches of an animal, sometimes he just jots down abstract lines in his workbook and other times the only sketches that exist, are in his mind. 

Over the years, I have begun to accept the fact that each sculpture is a journey and are a reflection of his life experiences and only when he’s done will I begin to understand the full impact of the statement he creates within each artwork.

Prior to sculpting, many hours are spent late at night with what I call “Walking the Wood”.  Ken           investigates the wood, (remember they are raw forms, not blocks) aged and weathered with cracks, character and sometimes other organisms.  Just as a surgeon studies and evaluates a patient, it’s amazing to watch him patiently work the wood, probing, cutting, following the growth patterns, and knots.  Through this process he identifies the structure in the wood, its weakness, strengths, discovering its possibilities and potential. At the same time, he is researching intimately the animal’s characteristics, measurements and its habitat.  Ken’s visual memory of animals, along with books, specimens, calipers, pencils and sketchbooks are nearby as he continues “Walking the Wood”.

Next blog… as Ken begins the subtractive process Debbie gets out of the way when the chips begin to fly...

 Debbie