Artist Statement by Maryland Artist Tom Crowl


Artist Statement


While I was carving at a show, a gentleman came up to me and said, "I could do that ten times faster with my Dremel."

Perhaps...

But you don't feel the wood when power cutting.  You miss the way a sharp chisel slices through the fibers.
You lose the feeling of changing the angle of a cut to work with the wood's grain.
You save time but miss the experience of actually carving the wood.
And isn't life really about the experience?

During the creation of this website, I did numerous searches for hand carved works.
Many Internet businesses claimed their works were "carved".
In reality they were cut.
A carver of wood uses chisels, knives and rasps - not a router or scroll saw.

 A hand carved work of art can not be matched by machine.
You do not carve with a router,
it simply cuts the shape of the bit.
You can not carve with a CNC machine,
it simply follows a computerized pattern to cut a perfectly replicated piece.
Hand carved means just that - carved by hand.

An artist can follow the grain of a piece of wood, adding beauty to nature's canvas.
An artist can alter a design to create a work that involves the wood itself.
A hand carved work will show the mark of a chisel - the mark of an artist.
Hand carved works become instant and treasured heirlooms that are worth much more than your initial investment.

Today,  professional wood carvers are few and far between.
Machines can do things so much faster.
Few people really understand or appreciate the hours that go into creating a truly original, one of a kind work of art.
If you are looking for a bargain price - please try Wal-Mart.
If you are looking for a quality work of art - I truly thank you and am honored you are visiting my website.
I hope I can be of service!
TAC


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Crafty Owl Primitives * Tom & Dierdre Crowl
P.O. Box 2131  *  Westminster, MD. 21158  *  (410)876-6771

As each work is a one of a kind, naturally we can not show every item on this website.  If you saw us at a show and would like to inquire about a specific piece - or you have a question regarding a custom commission, please:
e-mail us

All materials copyright 2004, 2005 - Tom and Dierdre Crowl