Some people see things in clouds. I see things in wood. In the beginning I saw furniture - untamed and whimsical, yet refined. As my wildwood journey progressed, I saw Martian smoke trails blasting out of retro rocket ships.
Teasing the image out of the wood involves an intense give and take. The wood must be allowed to speak for itself. Sometimes it is easy and takes a few days or weeks to complete a piece. Other times it is hard and takes years. Occasionally, I sacrifice a piece to the fireplace.
As I contemplate my own tentative relationship with the earth, I find myself identifying with trees. Our strength, majesty, scars knots, and burls are a visible testament to the struggles we have lived through. So, like trees, the more "character" we develop, the more interesting we become. Perhaps this kinship is what lights the creative fire in my belly and draws me into this wildwood world.
Whether it's an original in wood or a casting out of bronze, you can be sure that each completed piece has tickled my fancy or touched my soul along the way.
– Erik R. Lindbergh
