PHILIP C. PATTERSON

For most of my life wood has been my passion and pleasure. Trees are alive and the complexities of the wood of each tree, even if it is the same species or a part of the same plant, challenges my imagination and abilities to work with its uniqueness.

As an architect, I used wood to enhance my buildings, make furniture for the houses I lived in, and vessels and sculpted pieces to improve the aesthetics of my projects. Now retired from architecture I enjoy searching for wood, and the process is rewarding in itself. Often native wood is found near my home in Ashland, Oregon or in Arizona where I spend time in winter. But whether it is a Madrone burl, Manzanita, Oak, Walnut, Pine, Yew or Maple from Oregon or Mesquite, Palos Verde, Cottonwood, or Pecan from Arizona, the excitement of discovery is like exploring a new medium. Each piece is individual and interesting; the grain, color, shrinkage qualities, perhaps its renewable growth and structure all stimulate my imagination.

This is what I am striving for, unusual one-of-a-kind objects that will best display the natural characteristics of each piece of wood.

EDUCATION

University of Southern California School of Architecture
Pasadena City College

MEMBERSHIPS

GALLERIES

AWARDS