I can sculpt for hours and hours without realizing that I must tend to inconveniences like drinking water or eating food. For me, it’s akin to fishing: an activity I can thoroughly lose myself in, and one I don’t get to practice nearly as often as I like.
So when I was approached by friend and game writer Will Hindmarch to provide three art objects for his annual Level Eater charity event, I automatically said yes.
Being a life long lover of role-playing games (like Dungeons & Dragons et al), I felt firmly in my wheelhouse to create artifacts for this fantasy role playing event.
THE WAND
The first we discussed was a magic wand.
The lore of this wand casts it as a dark, sinister artifact. To achieve that, I took inspiration from a skeletal finger for the shape. The goal was angular and sharp, yet organic and graceful.
I chose to make the wand from walnut burl, and the handle from ebony. The stand is also made from walnut burl.
THE HEART
Next was a wooden heart, whose in-universe origin is the heart of a tree creature. I carved this from a block of Spanish cedar for its deep red color, and also its ease of workability. The base is made from olive wood, chosen for both its contrasting color and its contrasting grain pattern.
It sold in the auction to a veterinary surgeon, and I was very honored when he complimented its anatomical accuracy.
THE TREE
This was an incredibly satisfying build.
A tree, originating in fiction as a cutting from a celestial tree. In reality, it’s a Fukien Tee Tree, purchased from a local bonsai trainer. This species is one of the hardier and easiest to care for. I added succulents to fill in the multi-tiered arrangement.
The planter was made from reclaimed cedar, and allowed me to try my hand at power carving for the first time. Only one major injury!
It was finished in the same fashion as The Midnight Collection.
In all, these three objects raised around $1000 to benefit the Public Media Institute. Being the first ever public auction of my art, I was quite pleased with the outcome.
I can say with ease that I’ll return with more art next year and any year they’ll have me.
