The sculptures that appear on this site were created in my home workshop (which is to say, they were neither manufactured nor laser cut.)  The designs are cut out with a scroll saw and assembled into an original display.  Each has been individually hand crafted.  Even plaques which may contain only a single  design are never exactly duplicated. 

 Making a piece embodies both art and craft.  The craft is using a scroll saw to cut out a design glued on a piece of wood: it requires manipulating a machine using extreme patience and deft hand/eye coordination.  But the craft only produces a piece of wood with a lot of holes cut into it.  What is done with that holey piece of wood after that is art.

The Celtic designs come from ancient stones and markers, archeological sites, and 8th century manuscripts like the Book of Kells, the Book of Durrow, the Lindisfarne Gospels, and other ancient documents. Some designs, like the Celtic Cross, Mother Goddess triskel,  sunburst designs, and labyrinths, are  often repeated in my shop, though always in an original setting. Metal fasteners, such as screws, nails, and staples are not used. Nor are blueprints or templates. Serendipity, not surprisingly, is a constant and welcome companion.

The designs are cut out of 1/2" to 3/4" hardwoods: red oak, walnut, mahogany, maple, cherry, and birch.

Ancient peoples imbued their designs and images with spiritual significance. When I construct a piece, I endeavor to capture that significance by placing the design in a setting which conveys what they might have intended, and more importantly, in a setting which might resonate today in the genes of modern people.

Ancient Celtic images are often highly stylized and complex. They may consist of abstract geometric patterns, spirals, curvilinear forms, and zoomorphic interlaced designs. The designs are almost always mnemonics; i.e., the druids used images --pictures, if you will-- to teach the basic principles of their philosophical and spiritual beliefs. Knot work designs, for example, are interlaced patterns that have no beginning and no end. As such, they represent a primary Celtic belief:  the Cycle of Life is birth, death, rebirth. 

Notice

(September 6, 2009)

I was born May 1931 [do the math] and have been crafting with wood for about 30 years: creating pieces and selling them. I will continue creating pieces simply because I love doing them.  But from this date I am no longer actively marketing them and no longer attending shows.  I will continue this web site for awhile and continue putting my pieces on it, but without prices.  I have maintained the web site for the past two years primarily to keep in touch with scattered family, old friends, and previous customers who still collect the pieces.  I will continue to be available to those parties, plus anyone else with a serious interest or an intelligent question.

 Thank you,

 Roger

Note:  new pieces added January 2010:  DD-121,  DD-122,  DD-123,  DD-124,  DD-125,  DD-126, DD-127, DD-128.

Copyright © 2010

 Spirit Tree Creations.

 All rights reserved.