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All work is ©Ralph Churchill and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner
without the express written permission of the artist.
Website ©2011 PlacitasArtists.com All rights reserved
Turquoise Canyon
10" X 17" Natural Hardwoods
©Ralph Churchill
Sanctuary
12" X 30" bas-relief carved Basswood
©Ralph Churchill
Rio Chama View
9" X 12" bas-relief carved Basswood
©Ralph Churchill
Night Watch
7" X 17" bas-relief carved Basswood
©Ralph Churchill
Four Play
20" X 20" bas-relief carved Basswood
©Ralph Churchill
El Camino Real
8" X 30" Natural Hardwoods
©Ralph Churchill
Desert Cathedral
12" X 20" bas-relief carved Basswood
©Ralph Churchill
Agate Astrolabe
Biography Ralph Churchill
If you don't count the hours spent playing mumbly peg, my first experience with
wood was when my Junior High School Wood Shop teacher guided me through
the operation of a lathe. I was transfixed as I watched a nondescript piece of
wood turn into something with form and beauty. Everything about it fascinated
me, the sound, the smell and watching the evolution of the wood spinning on this
wonderful machine as I held the shaping chisel in my hands. But, then came
Sputnik and I had to trade the woodworking tools for a slide rule and join the
Cold War. At that time, any young man who could even spell "science" or "math"
was encouraged, no required, to become a scientist or engineer and do his part.
For the next 40-plus years, I was either in engineering school or working. Don't
get me wrong, I greatly enjoyed my professional career and it provided my
family and me with tremendous opportunities. I gravitated to the business
aspects of engineering which opened an even greater variety of experiences
throughout my career.
As I was nearing retirement, my wife Betsy, who had been on this entire journey
with me, bought me a set of carving chisels; real carving chisels, with really
sharp edges, unlike the dull pocket knives of my youth. I suspect her motivation
was not entirely altruistic, but intended to give me something to do with my
hands and my time.
I began carving simple projects as a means to learn the capabilities of each
individual tool. About this same time, we "discovered" Placitas and I was drawn
to capture the surrounding scenery in wood. I began to explore different types of
wood and finishing techniques which enhanced my ability to record what I saw. I
am also learning to let the wood guide me in the expression of my vision and my
work is becoming less of an engineering project and more of an artistic
statement.
