Click on pictures for larger picture and close up details.
The far left picture is Jesus of Nazareth. I made the crown of thorns using the Russian olive tree, which grows in the wild in the foothills of the Idaho Rockies. I cut the portrait in maple and mounted it on mahogany oval. This is mounted on deep blood red velvet which is in a rectangle shaped frame. The lady I cut this for was Catholic, hence the three crosses at the top and the sacred hearts in the bottom corners.
Joseph Smith, the Mormon Prophet, is also a popular portrait for me, since I live in Mormon country. The front shot is from an origin pencil sketch by Dee Jay Bawden, owner of "Mormon Miscellaneous". Dee Jay is a world famous Mormon sculptor, whom I met in Provo, Utah, while delivering some art. He has given me permission to use his art, which is carved in marble, as models to make my wood art pieces.
The last picture is the famous "First Vision" which I mounted in a glassed-in shadow box. It is 4 feet tall, and 6 inches deep. I recreated the Sacred Grove in the box first, then put in Joseph Smith, and the visitation of the Father and the Son. This also was inspired by Dee Jay Bawden's sculpture. I want to do this in life size some time in the future. Just give me time and money, and it's yours - GRIN! I plan to do Orrin Porter Rockwell, (one of my favorites. I have even been told I look like him - without the glasses of course!), Parley & Orson Pratt, Heber C. Kimball, etc. all the early Church History Heroes.
Go to top of page for pictures of portraits and other art.