Inside Out

I started this sculpture without any direction as to what it would be, I had just purchased a large piece of Manzanita and wanted to work on it. I started removing bad areas of wood hoping for some inspiration to hit me or something to reveal itself, when nothing did after a couple of days it was put away in the garage rafters. After about five years and three of those not doing any art I felt like creating and was looking in the garage and pulled it out and still with no direction just started carving away wood trying to make flowing interesting shapes. After a failed attempt at finishing it with Tung Oil which left it very dark and looked terrible I had to remove enough wood to go deeper than the oil which is a penatrating finish. I then began sanding again and with the advice of woodworking legend Sam Maloof who lives close by I sanded to a very fine grit and burnished it, then only wax was used to finish and protect it (Thanks Sam).