
I began my creative life studying Landscape Architecture at Michigan State University and the University of Michigan. Upon graduation I became an electrician, electrical estimator, master electrician and electrical contractor. Needing a creative outlet, about 30 years ago I began selling my photographs at art fairs, specializing in Lighthouses, Steam Trains, and Flowers. I have always believed that behind every talented photographer is a frustrated 3D artist, so I began building birdhouses during the winter months, as a hobby. Woodpeckers and squirrels were intent on making the holes larger, and even adding holes, so I took tile making classes, taught by Karim Motawi, to learn to make porcelain ceramic predator guards.
I never do anything half way, so my house and yard became crowded with birdhouses. People began to beg me to sell them my birdhouses, but I resisted, and sold to only a few of my friends. With all the time, love and energy invested, I figured that no one would want to pay what I feel the birdhouses are worth. Finally about four years ago, I decided to sell birdhouses at art fairs. I now have six different styles and sizes, along with a birdfeeder. There's a completely unique, one-of-a-kind weatherproof piece of art for every budget that may also live indoors as a sculpture.
The real creativity goes into the porcelain tile predator guards and other accouterments. I'm always looking for ideas. The more creative you are the more you see. I see them all around me, in newspapers and magazines, in architectural details, in nature, everywhere. I take a slab of porcelain clay, cut it to size and cut the correct sized hole for the birds, then start sculpting more clay and joining it to the slab. I have to work fast because as the clay dries, the carved pieces will not adhere to the slab creating a monolithic piece. I do one idea, change it a little, then a little more, continuing until the idea has run its course, then I begin another idea. Being color challenged, I use a basic pallet of custom glazes in colors that I can see and my wife loves. Lately my tiles have been getting more and more three dimensional. With no tiles being alike, who knows where they'll go next.
At art fairs I get asked many questions:
"Do birds actually live in the houses?""Can the birdhouses be cleaned?" Yes, each style is designed to be opened for cleaning, and should be cleaned after each nesting cycle.
Absolutely, we get birds nesting every summer.
Our home is near Ann Arbor, Michigan.