Art that Frodo (and You) Can Love!
Frodo, Samwise The Brave, Merry, and Pippin (of Lord of the Rings and New Line Cinema fame) would be proud. That’s because I use sustainably-forested radiata pine from New Zealand to make almost all of my sculptures. You see, Frodo lives in The Shire, which as everybody knows, is in New Zealand. In fact, sourcing my sustainbly-forested raw materials from New Zealand is one big reason The Shire still thrives economically and environmentally. This is something to celebrate! In addition to helping Hobbits, this unique wood is also versatile, stable, has a beautiful, clear grain, and takes stain easily so I can create colorful works of art. Read more about my wood source at www.kiwilumber.com.
Nemo, Dorey and Nigel the pelican (of Finding Nemo and Pixar Studios fame) would also be proud. That’s because I use water-based stains and finishes with low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in all my artwork. They’re much easier on the water and air than oil-based alternatives. So, drink, swim, and fly freely, my Pixar friends. We’ll join you!
The Tearful Indian/Native American (from the famous 1970s anti-pollution commercial, see video below) would also be proud and might even stop crying. That’s because I minimize waste and use recyclable materials as much as possible. I also use LED lighting, biodegradable and/or recyclable packaging, and I even save wood scraps as fuel to heat my home. Yay!
As I often say and write, it’s good to be a “beauty-bringer.” I wrote this fun little blog to fill in what I mean by that. Of course, I mean that it’s good to create aesthetic beauty; that is, physical artworks that are well-crafted, “please the aesthetic senses, especially the sight,” and thus bring joy to our hearts. This joy is amplified by the “beauty” of the artistic process from an environmental and efficiency standpoint. Knowing that an artist is thoughtful in these things deepens the beauty-experience. So, raise a mug of ale with Frodo, Samwise, Merry, and Pippin and let’s celebrate!
I’m doing what I can as an artist to dry this guy’s tears and bring a smile to his face.