I have been carving since 1988 when I first began training with the great British Master Carver Adam Thorpe. Over the years I have been lucky to have other major influences in my art and carving career, most notably the great Russian sculptor and painter Valentin Okorokov.
Throughout the years I have worked on many exciting and prestigious commissions including Christ figure doors for churches to theater surrounds and custom collaborative pieces in very high end homes and many other projects which are featured on the various galleries of this webpage,
Design, composition is the starting point and ultimately the most critical phase of any carving project. Without solid design, no amount of carving prowess, technical acumen will overcome a bad, careless, ill considered design. For that reason, I require a certain amount of initial engagement from the client in the beginning phases so commissioned projects can get off on the right foot and the client understands what the final product will be and expectations are met.
The prevailing architectural aesthetic has moved away from heavy, gaudy carving into an austere geometric, minimal aesthetic but this does not signal the end of woodcarving in the world of current architecture. Indeed, if variety within harmony is a facet of good composition, the graceful feminine curve of carving still has a role to play as an accent or the metaphorical equivalent of a period on the end of the sentence. I hope in considering your design choices, you will consider my thoughts and designs in this regard as they are idiosyncratic and distinctly emanating from the center of my unique experience and aesthetic appreciation.
Contact Michael McConnell Woodcarving 720-329-0533