Michael McDaniel

Michael McDaniel is a self-taught artist from Tuttle Oklahoma. He began carving and turning wood after an Oklahoma storm hit the trees around his property. Since then he has shaped numerous wooden creations from local wood, starting the process from the raw log form. He enjoys trading ides with other wood artist that look to create wood art from natural material sourced from nature. Many for clients were looking for a unique treasure made from a multi-generational tree that was damaged. He now enjoys sharing his turnings with those that enjoy the unique pieces that are created. Each of his pieces is determined by the type, shape, and size of the wood.

The material for this work is locally sourced hard woods. The process starts with a chainsaw and saw mill followed by turning it on a wood lathe. The entire process of drying, shaping and finishing takes up to 10 months. The shapes of the vases and hollow forms often depends on the size and shape of the wood and more so, the hidden treasure found inside. Each piece is unique on that basis alone. Adjustments are made through the process to reveal this hidden treasure, such as the spalting (discoloration), the figured grain and branching points from many yeas ago when the wood was much younger. Many of the larger pieces are from wood that is over a hundred years old. This wood is collected from local tree services or downed from storms. Both solid wood forms are created as well as segmented creations that are formed with many individually placed sections of wood.