I am often asked why I chose to become a stone sculptor, and I usually answer, because I was a bad painter. More accurately, I enjoy the creative and physical challenges of working with stone. Because I am a direct stone carver, I normally do not begin a new carving with a preconceived idea of what the finished sculpture will be. The unique characteristics of each stone, its natural contours, color, veining and the way it breaks when chiseled, along with my own sense of aesthetics, determine the final form. The finished sculpture reflects this collaboration between the stone and sculptor, which brings an element of truth to the work. This element of truth is important to me, because it communicates the possibility of understanding more than just the artwork.