Sculptor John McAbery Info - Sculpture.org
P.O. Box 163
Petrolia, CA 95558, U.S.A.
Phone: (707) 629-3549
lives and works on a remote and rugged stretch of the northwest coast.
home is a small handmade cabin without electricity or telephone.
workspace is a small table with a vise attached, a few hand tools and nothing else.
Out of respect for the environment, John
only uses aged logs from trees that have fallen naturally.
"No tree should be cut down just for the sake of artwork."
John and his partner, Gretchen Bunker, also grow and plant native trees along the north coast.
To begin the process, John
uses ribbons, clay or foil to create a three dimensional model of the sculpture.
also uses seaweed and shells found on the beach as models.
The design is then drawn on both sides of the block and the carving begins.
"I have to remove a lot of wood before I can actually see how the sculpture will flow together.
It is like searching for a hidden treasure."
uses a Japanese keyhole saw to rough out his
continues to refine the sculpture using smaller keyhole saws, gouges and microplanes.
After many days of cutting and shaping, a rough sculpture finally emerges from the block.
uses sandpaper in successive grits to continue refining every twist and curve.
The piece is finish sanded down to 600 grit, then polished with a blend of beeswax and carnauba.
Finally, the sculpture is mounted on a hardwood base.
John's partner, Gretchen, also collaborates with John on his designs, helps with the finishing process and photographs all of his work.
is carving, he
doesn't play it safe.
"I like challenging both the wood and my abilities.