John’s sculptures, however, are anything but
simple. His free flowing creations are all carved by hand from solid
blocks of windfall California bay laurel, sometimes weighing over
100 pounds. The finished sculptures can weigh as little as 4 ounces.
“I enjoy working with bay laurel. It is a fast growing native
hardwood, both tough and flexible, with a tightly interlocking grain.
The colors in the wood move independently of the grain, so I never
know exactly how this will influence the finished piece.”
Out of respect for the environment, John only uses aged logs from
trees that have fallen naturally. John and his partner, Gretchen
Bunker, also grow and plant native trees in the local watershed.
To begin the process, John uses ribbons, clay or
foil to create a three dimensional model of the sculpture. He also
uses seaweed and shells found on the beach as models. The design
is 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.”
John uses a Japanese keyhole saw to rough out his
piece. Then he 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. John 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. Gretchen also collaborates with John on his
designs, helps with the finishing process and photographs all of
When John is carving, he doesn’t play it safe.
“I like challenging both the wood and my abilities. I break
a few, but it is all part of the learning process. Every piece I
do teaches me something new. So although my tools remain the same,
my approach and application are always evolving, which is what really
makes carving fun. What I learn is much more important than what
The beauty and power of John’s natural surroundings
inspire many of his designs. “The coast is alive, full of
magic, music and motion. Some of that is bound to show up in my
work.” John’s peaceful lifestyle in such a pristine
setting and his passion for carving are an inspiration to many.