My name is Allen Craft and I sculpture in native woods.  Most of my sculptures are made from trees that I have personally cut.  Many of my pieces are cut from highly figured wood. Sometimes I expose the outside of the wood next to the cambium layer. Cracks, inner bark and many other defects will be left as part of my sculptures.  Some bases are made from woods different than the sculpture to add contrast.

The sculpture begins with a chunk of wood.  I make one or two curved cuts on the bandsaw to expose the grain.  There are no lines drawn on the wood nor do I have any preconceived notion of what I am about to make.  I continue to make cuts until I see some object or thing in the wood.

After being satisfied with the shape, I move to a belt sander and smooth out the various areas. Next I hand sand from coarse to fine. When sanding is complete, I seal the wood with tung oil or gel poly.  I do not normally use stain on my pieces.

My education includes Pratt Institute, Oswego, and Albany State. My Master’s Degree is in communication.  I taught Industrial Arts for 30 years in the areas of woodworking, technical drawing and CAD (Computer Assisted Drawing).  Time after school, and summers, was spent teaching Driver Education.

Now I am retired and enjoy working with wood.  Much time is also spent in creating wood turnings.  Being a member of AWA (Adirondack Woodturner’s Association) and NWA (Northeastern Woodworker’s Association) keeps me busy preparing for the Showcase which takes place every March or April in Saratoga Springs. I recently joined SWAG (Spa Woodturning Artist Guild) a new group that meets at the 4H Center.