Artist Statement: For the past decade, I’ve been dedicated to the practice of creativity. My primary instruments are an assortment of hand held carving tools and my medium is the trees. The work has changed, the approach has transformed, the desire has wavered and the results have been revealing. My ritual of creativity has completely entwined itself with my experience of life on this planet. There is no differentiation between who I am and what (and how) I create. Life is art. Life as art. I believe we are all artists, in a perpetual state of creating. Thoughts, words, health, illness, hate, compassion, joy, misery, beauty, darkness, strength, strife, confusion, peace... It is our very nature. The extent to which we realize this has immense implications on what is created. And when we do awake to our inner artistry, life becomes a sacred, delicate seedling that necessitates responsibility, care and commitment in order to grow into something that roots deep so to stand tall and bear fruit throughout the journey of life. Process: The wall hung relief carvings and sculptures are created on wood slabs from locally salvaged trees. Jonathan uses a variety of hand held rotary tools, dremels and grinders and chisels to create the patterns and textures. Geometric patterns and simple clean graphics are a cornerstone in his work. The final finish is Milk paint and oil.