Pine Tree Studios of New England

 A news article about the giant straw Yule Goat in Gavle, Sweden lead to a an idea which lead to a sketch and finally this little figure. I'm torn between leaving it as it is, or decorating it somehow. Recycled Eastern White Pine, unfinished, 2021.

 This sculpture from reclaimed Eastern White Pine was a lamination experiment.  Each laminated layer was cut to shape to both reduce waste and time to rough out the sculpture.   Eastern White Pine, polyurethane finish, August 2021.

 This work was based on an original by M. Paul Ward.  The half-finished piece languished in a drawer for years.  I recently came across the piece and selected to complete it for a show next month. Butternut, polyurethane finish, August 2021.

 This Eastern White Pine board was in the basement of my childhood home for decades and I discovered a couple years before the house was sold.  The exterior of the rough-sawn block was very tough and there was a huge knot in it.   I had been looking to do a large relief when an acquaintance shared a sketch she had made.  I loved the position and it fit the size of that old block, but the knot went through the legs and would have made that part of the carving impossible.   I then realized that if I changed the subject into a mermaid, I could work around the knot. Eastern White Pine, polyurethane finish, July 2021.

 July 2021 seems to be a month for painting and finishing.  This Loch Ness Monster has been presented at a few events as an example of a carving in process.  The finished piece shown below will be available to be viewed in person at the 2021 Old Home Day event in Dracut, Massachusetts this September. Polychromed pine sculpture mounted on oak plinth (approx 30"x4"x1").   Finished with polyurethane. 2021

 The elf started in February is finally done.  I tried something a bit different and finished it with a coat of stain and then woodburned the eyes.  I'm quite happy with the result. 2021 Eastern White Pine Stained

 This carousel horse has been patiently waiting for some attention.  It's been in progress for several years, but this month it's got my full attention until it is complete. I'm looking at various color schemes and some ideas for a base. 2021 In Progress Laminated Eastern White Pine. Currently unfinished.