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Steven Brown
Steven Brown’s “Pinnacles” attracted the attention of the judges at this year’s 7th Cloverdale Annual Sculpture Exhibit opening, where they awarded Brown an Honorable Mention award. The “Pinnacles” set of four pieces were cut from an old burned-out redwood stump, which Brown had been looking at for years before deciding how to cut into manageable sizes. He selected four pieces which can be arranged in any number of positions to work as a group. The flame-colored redwood grain shimmers in direct light, and appear more solid in shade. Seen from a distance they suggest wave-hopping whales. “Pinnacles” is fast-becoming a favorite with those who love to interact with it – indeed few are able to pass by without reaching out to touch the rich tones and smooth carvings of the wood. Steven Brown’s designs are suggested to him by the stumps , and he explained his process as follows: “Normally, I will look at a rough stump until the sculptural possibilities become apparent to me. The direction I take is suggested to me as I carve into the core and respond to the grain, rather than imposing a particular shape to conform to my idea”. He went on to elaborate “after considering the sculptural potential of a redwood stump, root or burl, I begin by roughing out the form with a chainsaw, then use sanders, rasps and chisels to finish. I follow the lead of the natural grain and structure – normally it’s a process of simplifying to the core. The pieces are finished with spar varnish or log oil to seal against the elements, and to hold the color of the redwood. On some pieces I use furniture glides on the underside so they’re easier to move on a floor or deck”. Brown decided at the age of six to become an artist, with the encouragement of a very supportive mother. Over the years, he moved from crayons, color pencils and watercolors to oils and acrylics, then to wood. His formal training was primarily in graphic arts, and his emphasis now is sculpture. He worked on small-scale wooden pieces for many years, until his move to the Mendocino coast in 1981 inspired him to work on much larger pieces. He has been carving redwood stumps, roots and burls ever since. Several of his pieces have been installed in the Santa Barbara area and along the Mendocino coast, and locally at Seghesio Winery in Healdsburg. |
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Photo by Tedd Peterson |