Collection: Wild Cottonwood Collection

Bring up the Cottonwood tree (one of the few deciduous trees that thrives in the plains of Colorado) and you're bound to get some mixed responses. Some people find only nuisance in their cottonlike seeds which can get stuck on screens and crevices, or deem the wood useless due to its unpredictable grain and to being rather soft for a hardwood. To me, these magnificent creatures shoot up from the earth with a raw magnetism and mysterious power that makes them stand out from miles away. In the fall they dazzle in shimmering gold, in the winter they rise as gnarled hands, and in the spring their seeds float out in the wind like something out of a fairytale, glowing bright in the sun. Near a creek or a lake, they harmonize with the Willow to fill the space with a sweet, refreshing aroma. The wood, while soft, can indeed be tricky to work, as you never quite know what to expect; however, in carving, I see only opportunity for interest, and inspiration for shapes I would never come up with on my own. Conversing with Cottonwood is never boring. 

The Wild Cottonwood collection is my ode to this unique species, wherein my challenge is to represent the beauty that I see in these trees, both alive and as a material. These pieces are made using logs from a tree that was cut down by our neighbors. I expect to continue making more from this tree as time goes on, and adding to the collection over time.