Frequently Asked Questions
How did you start to make art like this?
It started when my wife, Jen, found me a cheap second hand scroll saw. I’d never used a scroll saw but I’m always keen to try new tools. I decided to make something to donate to the Hope for Wildlife Society’s charity gift shop, so I cut out and painted a wooden fox - which turned out to be pretty cute and people liked it, so I kept creating. My technique has evolved a lot over the years.
How long does it take you to make a piece?
It depends on the size and the amount of detail. As a very rough average, it takes me 40 to 80 hours to complete a 36" x 24" piece.
What do you call this type of art?
That’s a tricky one. There’s no traditional category my art fits into. Over the years I’ve called it things like “scroll saw paintings” or “wooden inlay paintings”. It’s similar in some respects to a method called intarsia, but it’s also very different. Maybe it doesn’t need a name.
Do you use a machine like a CNC router for cutting and sanding?
No, each artwork is unique and handmade. I do all of my cutting with a scroll saw and most of my sanding with old fashioned sandpaper, though sometimes I use a power sander to take the edges off larger pieces of wood.
What materials do you use?
I use ¼” baltic birch plywood glued onto a ½” spruce backboard, secured to a maple frame. After sealing the cutout pieces with a tannin-blocking primer, I apply several coats of acrylic paint and then protect them with an archival isolation coat and two coats of UV resistant varnish.
How heavy are the originals and how do I hang them?
They aren't as heavy as they look - a 36" x 24" piece is approximately 16 lbs. My originals come ready to hang with a steel wire at the back (recessed for a flush mount). All you need is a screw to hang them from, either in a stud or in a provided drywall anchor.
Will your paintings last as long as paintings done on canvas?
Wood is stronger and more durable than canvas and therefore more archival. Many of the “Old Masters” painted on wooden panels and their works have lasted hundreds of years. Provided they are stored within an acceptable temperature and humidity range, my paintings should outlast canvas.
Can I hang my original outside?
Although my pieces are protected by 2-3 coats of waterproof, UV-resistant varnish, they aren't designed for outdoor display.
I noticed that the frames are either natural maple or painted white, can I change the colour?
I use either tung oil as a waterproof protective finish that brings out the natural beauty of the maple, or I paint the frames white using Sherwin Williams semi-gloss. If you like, you can paint the frame any colour that suits your taste.
Why do your prints almost look like they are made of wood?
My prints are made from photographs of originals. The grain of the wood and shadows between the pieces of wood can give the impression that they are 3D, however they are just high quality 2D reproductions.
Are the paper prints ready to frame and what sort of paper are they printed on?
Not all of my prints are a standard size, therefore some will need to be custom framed. The paper prints come unframed with a 0.5” white border. They are printed by a fine art reproduction printing house on archival paper with the giclee printing technique.
Are the canvas prints ready to hang?
Yes, the canvas prints are stretched with a 1.5" thick frame and are ready to hang. No frame is necessary.
What inspires your creations?
My inspiration comes from a lot of places. Often ideas will come to me while I’m going for a walk in nature. Sometimes I’ll sit down at my desk and do a whole bunch of loose sketches, some of which I will like and refine further. For me, the main source of inspiration is the ocean. There’s something about its beauty, vastness and mystery that just encapsulates the creative process.
Where can I view your art?
You can view it in person in my gallery in Lower Canard, NS, by appointment. Jennifer's of Nova Scotia in Halifax carries some of my originals as well as a selection of my cards and prints, and Mosaic Treasures in Lunenburg carries a selection of my prints and cards.
It started when my wife, Jen, found me a cheap second hand scroll saw. I’d never used a scroll saw but I’m always keen to try new tools. I decided to make something to donate to the Hope for Wildlife Society’s charity gift shop, so I cut out and painted a wooden fox - which turned out to be pretty cute and people liked it, so I kept creating. My technique has evolved a lot over the years.
How long does it take you to make a piece?
It depends on the size and the amount of detail. As a very rough average, it takes me 40 to 80 hours to complete a 36" x 24" piece.
What do you call this type of art?
That’s a tricky one. There’s no traditional category my art fits into. Over the years I’ve called it things like “scroll saw paintings” or “wooden inlay paintings”. It’s similar in some respects to a method called intarsia, but it’s also very different. Maybe it doesn’t need a name.
Do you use a machine like a CNC router for cutting and sanding?
No, each artwork is unique and handmade. I do all of my cutting with a scroll saw and most of my sanding with old fashioned sandpaper, though sometimes I use a power sander to take the edges off larger pieces of wood.
What materials do you use?
I use ¼” baltic birch plywood glued onto a ½” spruce backboard, secured to a maple frame. After sealing the cutout pieces with a tannin-blocking primer, I apply several coats of acrylic paint and then protect them with an archival isolation coat and two coats of UV resistant varnish.
How heavy are the originals and how do I hang them?
They aren't as heavy as they look - a 36" x 24" piece is approximately 16 lbs. My originals come ready to hang with a steel wire at the back (recessed for a flush mount). All you need is a screw to hang them from, either in a stud or in a provided drywall anchor.
Will your paintings last as long as paintings done on canvas?
Wood is stronger and more durable than canvas and therefore more archival. Many of the “Old Masters” painted on wooden panels and their works have lasted hundreds of years. Provided they are stored within an acceptable temperature and humidity range, my paintings should outlast canvas.
Can I hang my original outside?
Although my pieces are protected by 2-3 coats of waterproof, UV-resistant varnish, they aren't designed for outdoor display.
I noticed that the frames are either natural maple or painted white, can I change the colour?
I use either tung oil as a waterproof protective finish that brings out the natural beauty of the maple, or I paint the frames white using Sherwin Williams semi-gloss. If you like, you can paint the frame any colour that suits your taste.
Why do your prints almost look like they are made of wood?
My prints are made from photographs of originals. The grain of the wood and shadows between the pieces of wood can give the impression that they are 3D, however they are just high quality 2D reproductions.
Are the paper prints ready to frame and what sort of paper are they printed on?
Not all of my prints are a standard size, therefore some will need to be custom framed. The paper prints come unframed with a 0.5” white border. They are printed by a fine art reproduction printing house on archival paper with the giclee printing technique.
Are the canvas prints ready to hang?
Yes, the canvas prints are stretched with a 1.5" thick frame and are ready to hang. No frame is necessary.
What inspires your creations?
My inspiration comes from a lot of places. Often ideas will come to me while I’m going for a walk in nature. Sometimes I’ll sit down at my desk and do a whole bunch of loose sketches, some of which I will like and refine further. For me, the main source of inspiration is the ocean. There’s something about its beauty, vastness and mystery that just encapsulates the creative process.
Where can I view your art?
You can view it in person in my gallery in Lower Canard, NS, by appointment. Jennifer's of Nova Scotia in Halifax carries some of my originals as well as a selection of my cards and prints, and Mosaic Treasures in Lunenburg carries a selection of my prints and cards.