Destiny

The Birth of a Dream

The  creation of

" Destiny "

It was fall of 2008, and although I was very near the end of my work season and wasn't really looking for any new projects until next spring, I was fortunate to be contacted by a really nice couple, who told Me they had been looking for a wood sculptor, to fulfill a special project that they had in mind for quite a few years.

They had told me of how when Robert was just a school aged kid, He and His best friend had each brought home one of those Arbor Day Seedlings from school one day to plant at home, and then told me what they'd like Me to do with a remnant log of Pinewood they had saved, with hopes of someday finding someone to turn it into a sort of memorial gift, for a very close and dear friend of roberts, who's Mom had actually planted and nurtured this little seedling, which grew for at least  22 yrs according to the ring count of the log they'd brought along.

Robert went on to tell me that sometime after the trees felling, he had gone over and managed to salvage a nice section of that tree, now just a pine log laying in the pile of cut wood, and took it home with the hopes that It might someday be transformed into some sort of memorial to present as a gift .

 At our Meeting, Robert had brought along that log, and presented it to Me, asking if I could indeed transform it into a memorial to this fine woman. Well, I was so touched by hearing of their spirit of love, loyalty and lasting friendship,

I just couldn't say "no"! 

At first glance, I felt there might be some problems doing this, as it wasn't really the "greatest specimin of wood", having knots & branch ends, and quite a few "cracks" & "checks" from its aging and drying and temperature changes all the time it sat in Roberts garage

  Now, since I love a good challenge, I figured I'd get around all the small defects, and find some useful material from it, with which to start working with.This meant that I would have to turn this log, into usable Lumber to carve from. This meant that I would have to turn this log, into usable Lumber to carve from.

As I proceeded, It presented more and more Un-usable material, again, due to the cracks and splits.

along with lots of resin, but as I became more worried that I was running out of Wood to be able to work with, Until finally, I had reached the very "Heart" of the log, the very center of the wood.

hats when I first noticed the unique properties within the center of this Log.

The Woodgrain contained within was just gorgeous, and since Robert had requested I use no Paints, and just try to leave it natural, finished with a Gloss finish that let the Grain showcase itself.

So... from that point on, it was as if the tree was telling Me what possible options I had and what wonderful options they were !

  As I continued getting down to the middle of the wood, I had noticed its unique pattern of grain, and it was then that I discovered this Dove within the log.

It was truly as if it had dictated its own "destiny", showing me more and more of what I needed, so I could help it "Hatch out" of its bindings, and become what It is now.

Thankfully, the wood and I now had a "relationship", and I just allowed it to show Me its potential.

Now.. I know how this must sound, but I truly feel that once I and the Wood I'm working with reach an understanding, everything else is pretty much out of My hands, and so, I followed the lead it was showing me. It's almost as if I were a "Tree Whisperer" of sorts.

I've always enjoyed a good relationship with wood. Each piece of wood, or tree I see, reveals to me it's possibilities. Which fortunately, allows me to be able to see the potential hidden within, and the rest just comes naturally.

The closer I got to the Heart, the more it showed Me. Soon enough, We were on a roll !

Once I got closer and closer to its final form, by forming the wings, cut from the 2 side slabs I cut away from the bulk, I then started cutting &  shaping the wings, then sanded them into shape.

Then, The body of the bird finally revealed itself after I stared at it for quite a few hours, until finally, I noticed the grain itself, had the dove within it all the time. It really was quite a reveal !

Needless to say, I was quite pleased to see it.

Once I saw it, It was time to free it as I stated earlier. and once I had the wings and body, it was time to get the details in order.

The more refinement and progress I made, the more It disclosed its final "Destiny" to me.

 It was like magic.Bird carving, being my specialty, and always on my mind, may have steered Me of course, But this was an amazing and unique experience for me !

I certainly could have made several other things of what wood I had to work from, But none would have been as spectacular as this.

The closer I came to the Heart of the wood, the more clearly I could see it .

This Dove couldn't wait to be set free, and so.., I allowed it to become what You now hold in Your hands.

Wings were shaped, sanded and the feathers were cut, and now, work on the body could begin.

Once I noticed the Grain itself had a the dove within it, It was time to set it free.

Once all was shaped, sanded and ready to assemble, the wings were attatched and final detailing could begin at last.

The feather detailing was painstakingly fine tuned, and the body was sanded smooth as glass. it was evident that this piece of pine log, once a beautiful sturdy tree, contained a certain beauty within itself, that would someday be free. It's olmost as if it already had plans of it's own, and it only took Roberts love for a dear friend, and a skilled hand, to allow it to do so.

 Once all the detailing was completed, I finished it as Robert requested, (against My better judgement at the time because of the defects I found within. ) But since Robert had asked Me to leave all woodgrain exposed, and not paint the wood, as I would normally have done I am glad now very happy that He asked me to do this.

I'm now sure it was part of the "master plan" pre-destined for this piece of wood.

I am very happy that he asked that it be finished naturally, with a High Gloss, to showcase the beautiful grain and features of the pine wood.

 So, as Robert requested, I finished sanding all surfaces to perfection, completed the feather detailing, and coated the bird with 4 coats of High Gloss Polyurethane.

Then, finally, I added the eyes, and the legs, and mounted the Dove upon a nice ring cut of Maplewood, which was in turn mounted onto a beautiful piece of routed "Yellow Pine" (now extinct) which was finished altogether the same as I did the bird.

So here now, I present to You, this finished, one of a kind gift requested by very special friends, which I created with all the love and care I could possibly give to it.

DESTINY

Photo from pocono pat from Hawley,PA 18428,Planet Earth

This photo shown in these blog posts:

• wood birds in flight Interview

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