I am a second generational wood worker, raised in the forests of Floyd County, Virginia. I have been producing art professionally for 18 years, selling at juried art shows nationwide. I exclusively work with sustainably harvested, local hardwood burl to create one of a kind sculptural vessels. The pieces are initially prepared into rough, workable shapes with a chainsaw. For certain pieces, I mount them onto a lathe to be turned, using long-handled bowl gouges and various other chisels. For other pieces, I use grinders to sculpt organic forms by hand. Each piece is then finely sanded and hand rubbed with a urethane based oil to an immaculate finish. I often incorporate crushed stone, mineral specimens, antler, silver and copper powder inlay for dimensional artistic purposes. Burl wood lends itself to unique bark inclusions and distinct grain patterns, no two pieces are alike. I focus on form over function, transforming the diseased part of a tree into art.