I will be closing my Artfire studio as of December 22.  If interested, you can following my work here:  www.woodcatsanddogs.com, on my Facebook page:  www.facebook.com/ElysiumWoodcarvings, or in my Etsy shop:  www.etsy.com/shop/ElysiumWoodcarvings.  Thank you for your support.... » Read More

These are two recently completed custom pieces.  Pet portraits are my specialty, and I enjoy creating new poses as well.This seated cat was created to match a similar piece I created for the owner several years ago of another cat.  Here is a comment she made about this piece:"My very sweet angel Mushy Cat....You have captured his sweetness so well. Thank you so much Ruth. You did an exceptional job!!"This cat on the 'pillow' was a special pose requested by the cat's owner.  The 'pillow' was created with layers of wood to give it a three-dimensional look.... » Read More

This is my latest three dimensional wood sculpture.  It is my version of the "see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil" monkeys.  Here's how I did it:  First, I cut out several pine board on a band saw in the shapes needed to create a rough piece.  Then I laminate the boards together and put the entire piece into clamps.   After giving the piece time to dry, I begin the carving process using various types of hand tools, including traditional chisels as well as simple utility knives.The final step before painting is heavy duty sanding to smooth all of the edges.  For this I use both sand paper and rasps.With sanding completed, I paint the pie... » Read More

You might wonder how close a likeness can be achieved for a custom order.  Here’s one example which I created of my own little dog. When I create a custom angel (or devil), I use photos from the owner.  During the painting process, I'll often update the owner with emailed photos of the work in progress.  That way, they can give me feedback on what might need to be changed or fine tuned.  Over the years this method has worked well for the owner and myself. I would like to invite anyone who has purchased one of my custom pieces to give some feedback on how the process worked for them.... » Read More