About: Bruce McCandless draws inspiration from the forests and sawmills of Delaware County in the New York Catskill Mountains.  Said Bruce, in a recent conversation, "It's the incredibly awesome creation the earth that inspires my work."

American Beauty Art products begin to take shape in the forest, where McCandless may glean logs left behind after a timber harvest, or an old stump.  Then Bruce seeks permission from the landowner to acquire the wood.  "None of my work starts with a living tree. I find stumps, logs left behind after a timber harvest. Sometimes the wood is just from the forest floor or I select interesting culls from the local sawmill because the character of the sawn wood is interesting."

"Take that footed bowl for example," McCandless continued, "It was part of a 300-year-old black cherry tree that had been infested with black ants. See the holes in the pedestal foot?  Those were created by the ants. For some reason black ants like black cherry.  When I work with black cherry. I have to be careful because I can end up with black ants all over the place as the wood thaws."

McCandless also draws inspiration from events that occur in the life cycle of the tree.  "I created pieces from a tree on my property that burned.  It was interesting to see the color and marks made by the flames.  When I work on pieces inspired by things like a fire, I always try to leave the marks behind.  It's really all about what I see as I carve or saw into the wood."

"I guess it would be fair to say, I let God tell me what to create."

American Beauty Art is a multifaceted art-based enterprise located in the western Catskills. Our "one of a kind" wood turnings, concrete counters/table tops and furnishings provide a unique resource for designers and individuals looking for unusual and functional products designed and created in the Catskills. Requests for custom applications are always welcome. American Beauty Art also provides professional digital photographic services ranging from still-life photos and portraits to architecture and landscapes.

Products/Services Offered: Counter Tops, Bowls, Sculpture, Turnings, Digital Photography

Sales Types: Retail, direct to trade, contractor

Contact:

Bruce McCandless
Tel: (603) 746-8264
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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