Mark Stogsdill

Mark Stogsdill is a sculptor and wood worker that resides in Carlsbad, CA. Born into an adventerous ocean loving family, his childhood vacations were spent on sailing adventures around the islands off the coast of California, and surf trips up and down west coast. Mark was always fascinated with nature, and his artistic style is one that was developed through those early formative years outdoors.

Mark finds inspiration in the power of the natural world and tuning into the flow of life. His style emphasizes the idea that less is more, and he is a follower the Japanese concept of Wabi Sabi. He creates the form the driftwood inspires in his mind. His philosophy is to celebrate natural forms without imposing too much of his will on it. The universe always provides you with what you need. His creations resonate on an elemental level providing a connection to Mother Earth that we all long for.

I am a Viking at heart and create driftwood sculptures from the bounty that nature provides. My process is meditative, natural, and allows me to follow the rhythm of the ocean and the seasons. I spend a lot of time wandering the seashore in search of interesting artifacts that the universe has provided for my creations. I built a custom camper van that allows me to explore destinations up and down the coast, especially after rain. The search is a huge part of the process, and every piece of wood I collect has a story. When I am done collecting, I bring my bounty back home to my studio in Carlsbad and organize it in a way that makes sense to me.  Norse mythology believed that Odin created the first man and woman out of driftwood. When I work with it I can feel this magic. I am merely the interpreter in the process. My work is an instrument of something else, a higher frequency that I can truly tune into when I am creating. My driftwood works are a link to our past and a celebration of rebirth through the transformational power of change.

CA

United States