Juniper Sculptures By Robert Fitzgerald

Juniper Wood Sculptor, Robert Fitzgerald, was born in Ohio. As a young man, Robert, spent 14 years in Argentina where he married and started a family. He then spent many of these years traveling throughout Brazil, the Amazon, & Buenos Aires. It was during these years that Robert began his artistic career.

Originally, Robert painted abstract oils, which were featured in galleries in Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, and Italy. In 1978 Robert returned to the U.S. and traveled extensively, collecting artworks.

At the turn of the century, Robert moved to Oregon and it was there that he first began working with the Western Juniper. Robert saw the amazing possibilities that the local Juniper wood offered to a sculptor.

Fortunately, for wood lovers, Robert transferred his artistic abilities to this interesting wood, creating beautiful designs, expressing both realism and abstracts.

The Juniper trees that Robert uses are from the highest, coldest, windiest regions of the Oregon Mountains. This wood is often referred to as "Windswept Juniper", as it is exposed to high winds, which causes "wind shake", which in turn creates some of the beautiful and unusual grain patterns that you'll find in his works. This wood is also sometimes called "Twisted Juniper", as this tree is a survivor plant. It's roots will twist their way through the soil and rob other plants of their nutrients in order to sustain itself, thus causing the wonderfully beautiful twists and turns that Robert uses to his advantage.

Robert uses a keen eye, as well a chain saw, grinders, sanders, and wood carvers to create his juniper sculptures. The sculptures are finished with many coats of polyurethane. The work is very painstaking, time consuming, and sometimes, unfortunately... totally fruitless. Often, after spending weeks working on a piece, removing the rotten punky wood, there is little or nothing left. But, for the pieces that make the cut, breathtaking beauty is ours for the enjoyment of a lifetime.

Robert encourages touching his sculpture. In fact, it is almost impossible to resist!