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Falling in love with traditional Pennsylvania German folk art, I treasured the vibrant colors, forms and symbols that have made this a unique art form. The personal loving touch that inspired multiple generations became infectious and has inspired me. With a love of antiques and folk sculptures, I explored the creation of these works for myself. I collected Pennsylvania carvings and studied the methods and techniques of those original objects from past masters and contemporary Pennsylvania artisans. Since 2004, I started to carve and create a style of my own. Working with a single chip carving knife, I carve sculptures and whimsies from figures I draw directly on the wood. I then prepare the wood and paint multiple layers to make each a one of a kind work. I have been influenced by many of Pennsylvania’s most treasured folk artists. Wilhelm Schimmel, "Schtolschnitzler" Simmons and Aaron Mountz are just three of the major ones while their contemporaries are also studied. Other influences include the pottery sculptures of Solomon Bell and his brothers. Each of my carvings is a unique work of art with no two alike. Every piece is signed and dated when it was completed and many include titles of their own or unique phrases written on the bottom of the base. I am a juried member of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and am part of the Reading-Berks Craftsmen Chapter. My work has been pictured in the Susquehanna Style Magazine, and in the Folk Art Alliance of Schuylkill publication. A carving of mine was also exhibited at the Lancaster Train Station.....see pictures below. I have also been honored to be in the Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Traditional American Crafts as one of the best traditional artists in America for 2024, 2023, 2022, 2020, and 2019. 
In August of 2024, I am again honored to be listed in the
Early American Life Magazine's 39th Directory of Traditional American Crafts Artists. This time with two different pictures! |
Below are pictures of when my work was displayed in the Lancaster Train Station.
Below are pictures of when my work was displayed in the Lancaster Train Station.
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In August of 2023, I was honored to be listed in the
Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Traditional American Crafts Artists 
In August of 2022, I was honored to be listed in the
Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Traditional American Crafts Artists 
In 2020, I was listed in the Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Traditional American Crafts Artists
I was interviewed by the Folk Art Alliance of Schuylkill, Berks and Lancaster counties in July, 2021 for their 2020-2021 Field Report. |
In December, 2019 a picture of one of my bird trees was shown in the Susquehanna Style Magazine
In 2019 I was also listed in the Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Traditional American Crafts Artists
I was also honored to be interviewed for BCTV in Reading PA in 2018 for the Reading-Berks Guild of Craftsmen.
You can view the video here.
You can view the video here.
Linktr.ee Site
https://linktr.ee/patradfolkart
https://linktr.ee/patradfolkart
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