ARTIST STATEMENT
JACK SHELTON
Wood is a perfect medium for many visual and tactile art forms. It has been used throughout history, from earliest man to todays modern artist, to not only provide function and utility but also to express creativity. A tree has two lives; one while alive and growing, giving us beauty, shelter and many times food; the other after its death, giving us its wood to produce useful and long lasting items which are both functional and beautiful.
My work is a reflection of this second life. The grain, color and feel of wood have become the core of my thought process as I create my special art. My early work with wood was of a functional nature, making furniture and useful craft items. It gradually became a passion for showing the unique beauty of wood. I have patiently learned to create forms that highlight this beauty. I create one-of-a-kind pieces and each one displays careful and thoughtful consideration of the unique qualities that particular piece of wood offers. The most rewarding moments when displaying this work is when people initially view my work and admire its form and creative appeal and then proceed into a second but deeper view and realize the incredible beauty that the wood has offered as a medium.
The use of wood to express my creativity grounds me and keeps me in touch with my natural surroundings. I have always felt a sense of peace and calm when taking a walk under the canopy of a heavily wooded forest or just sitting in the shade of a tree, reflecting on the days past and the promise of things to come.
I sincerely hope my work will touch you in some special way and appeal to you in a similar way as it has inspired me throughout my life.
JACK SHELTON
Wood is a perfect medium for many visual and tactile art forms. It has been used throughout history, from earliest man to todays modern artist, to not only provide function and utility but also to express creativity. A tree has two lives; one while alive and growing, giving us beauty, shelter and many times food; the other after its death, giving us its wood to produce useful and long lasting items which are both functional and beautiful.
My work is a reflection of this second life. The grain, color and feel of wood have become the core of my thought process as I create my special art. My early work with wood was of a functional nature, making furniture and useful craft items. It gradually became a passion for showing the unique beauty of wood. I have patiently learned to create forms that highlight this beauty. I create one-of-a-kind pieces and each one displays careful and thoughtful consideration of the unique qualities that particular piece of wood offers. The most rewarding moments when displaying this work is when people initially view my work and admire its form and creative appeal and then proceed into a second but deeper view and realize the incredible beauty that the wood has offered as a medium.
The use of wood to express my creativity grounds me and keeps me in touch with my natural surroundings. I have always felt a sense of peace and calm when taking a walk under the canopy of a heavily wooded forest or just sitting in the shade of a tree, reflecting on the days past and the promise of things to come.
I sincerely hope my work will touch you in some special way and appeal to you in a similar way as it has inspired me throughout my life.