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I spent ten years devoted to expressing abstract ideas in metal and stone. With nature as my model, I worked to make objects that looked as though they had been grown, or eroded, not made with tools. Most tools are designed to cut straight and make things flat. Few things in the natural world are straight or flat, so I was constantly using the tools at their limits. I chose these materials for their power and permanence, but these same qualities provided me with considerable resistance. Making my sculpture was extremely time consuming, but I am very patient. I became an expert with my tools. I love using them.
People started asking me to use my skills to make things for them that were more utilitarian. For a while I resisted, seeing this as a potential distraction from my work as an artist. However, a few clients persisted, and I produced some furniture with the same care I took in making fine art. To my surprise, the process was not a compromise at all. On the contrary, I found that I enjoyed working within the parameters that the projects defined. I continued to accept these commissions and eventually chose to focus on them exclusively.
I now apply my skills to a great variety of projects. Not all of them are art, but I maintain an un-compromised devotion to craft in everything I do. From a simple repair to the most ambitious sculptural commission, my goal remains the same: an elegant design that efficiently utilizes materials to create something that remains beautiful forever.
I enjoy tackling challenges and making clients and customers happy. Let’s talk about your project and see how I can help you create something excellent.
Jeff Whitaker
55 NE Farragut St.
Portland, OR 97211