But first the raw wood has to be evaluated. I spend a great deal of time looking at the grains, the beauty of the veneer, as well as the imperfections. With wood, the grains often tell you what you cannot do, rather than what you can. When I get my vision, I pick up my tools and begin the work.

Working with plywood is extremely labor intensive. It has to be deconstructed, sculpted, sanded, patched, sanded again, painted and stained.

The frames are all hand made, packed with an acrylic dirt or sand mixture and then attached to the piece. Finally, they have to be blended together with the painted surface around the sides.

When finally ready for exhibition, I feel so connected to the work that I find it painful to part with.

-Michael Giancristiano