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I first saw scrimshaw as a teen, and it immediately captivated me. The combination of its nautical history, attention to detail, and a dare from my mother sealed the deal. I have been practicing the craft ever since.
While many modern scrimshanders produce photo-realistic images using a pneumatic engraver, I stay close to the nautical roots of the craft by using a single hand tool – a metal scribe – to make all the lines and shading I use in each piece. I use only natural materials: fossil and recycled ivory and antler.
About half my subject matter is nautical. The remainder consists of wildlife, flowers, and traditional designs. Being a professional biologist, I make their images as accurate as I can. I make a variety of items: jewelry, desk accessories, antler cribbage boards, and hunting knives. Recently I have started to make larger display pieces. It has allowed me to explore new things in the creation of my art, and use other materials to make the custom display bases for each piece.
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