Recently, I adopted the theme of ‘shadowy emergence’ to illustrate how the darkness of shadow is able to be effectively reflected a sculpture by using black ebony. Taking a cue from our local raven (as a shadow in the air) I incorporated shadow into another of our local birds; into a “flicker of shadow”. Ebony, the gift of Kings, has a
unique quality of being almost light exclusive, used to carve this flicker. Flickers (woodpeckers) appear at our home every year, coming to a large dead tree (with the appropriate hole). It is fascinating to watch a flicker in its eternal hunt for food, to see this specialized bird pursue ants in the hollows of our local willow.

Thus, I begin with a non-descript block of ebony. Then I carved, to capture a “flicker” of light illuminating a shadowy silhouette set on another base block of ebony. The diamond willow used here is one of a few that remained after a forest
fire around our place. It is special. I appreciate the combination of ebony and willow coalescing to capture an attractive natural concept in the uniqueness of where we live.