Gary Popen

Gary Popen

The wood trees that I create using my band saw with a 1/8” blade are NOT laser cut.   The woods I use come from all over the world and from everyplace imaginable.   Many from lumber shops, but some from logs, or scrap bins.   Some from others projects.   Some are solid pieces of wood, many are 3 half inch thick pieces glued together.   I’ve accumulated about 30 some patterns from silhouettes of actual trees.   I trace the pattern on the wood using Saral transfer paper.   I begin cutting away the bulk of the material using older blades, finish cutting with a new blade.   Finish sanding and sealing with Watco Danish Oil.   Each tree is done one at a time and can take up to 5+ hours to complete.   The end result for me is well worth the effort.  

The idea came to me one Fall evening while watching the sun set behind an old Sycamore Maple that had lost all its leaves.   I believe the Lord was asking me to make what I was looking at.   So, I started doing just that about some 20+ years ago.