Folk Art
noun;
"A term that showed up at the beginning of the 20th Century that loosely defines art, and artists, that have no official training, and are usually self-taught".
I've always been creative but never had a way of expressing it unless you call building chicken coops and renovating houses as creative. I guess in a way they are.
It wasn't until 2015 and a trip to Nova Scotia that I got my inspiration. Not that I was looking for anything to do.
My wife and I were vacationing in the province, camping and visiting the folk art galleries in small towns down rural roads.
In the town of Lunenberg there's a great folk art gallery that we went into and I was instantly taken with this art form and thought that's what I wanted to do.
This idea was firmly planted when we visited the Sunset Gallery in Cheticamp as well as the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, which has a permanent folk art exhibition.
I couldn't wait to get home!
When we returned I found a scrap piece of 2 X 4 and an old jack-knife and proceeded to create "Bud".
I was amazed to see that chunk of wood become something with a personality.
It was a magical experience, that still to this day, I remember I'd struck upon something that made me feel that I'd discovered a piece of myself that was hidden for a long, long time.
I've kept "Bud" as a reminder of how it all began.
He resides on the kitchen windowsill.
My carvings have changed in style from being somewhat primitive to more refined but they all incorporate a sense of humour. A main ingredient of folk art.
All of my pieces are labelled, signed, dated, and missed when they are sold.
I've sold many, many carvings worldwide through my website as well as taken commissions from families in Australia,
San Francisco, British Columbia, ( of course as that's where my biggest fan base is ) and Nova Scotia.
2015 Began my career as a folk artist
2018 to 2022 Vendor at the Oak Bay Night Market in Oak Bay, B.C.
2019, 2022 and 2023 Vendor at the Nomad Holiday Market, Victoria, B.C.
August 2022 Vendor at the Nomad Summer Market in Langford, B.C.
2023, 2024, 2025 Guest Artist at the Freya and Thor Gallery in Cheticamp, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
2023 - 2025 Showing at The South Shore Gallery, Sooke, British Columbia
​