124 G Street
Salida, Colorado 81201
719-530-0466
Being an artist just came naturally to Joe since he was born and raised on a farm in Kansas. Those Kansas boys can practically do anything! Joe was born and raised around Dodge City, Kansas. He was the youngest in a family of six boys. The boys all started farming as soon as they could reach the gas pedals on the tractors.. Not only did they have to drive tractors but they had to learn how to fix anything that broke down. Breakdowns are very much a way of life with farming.
Joe taught himself how to build when he bought his first house. It was more than a fixer-upper. Somehow he managed to build a very unique and unusual home. It was the old lathe and plaster. He used a big wheat truck to haul out all the old stuff and haul in all the new. He dug his own basement with a pick, shovel, and a wheelbarrow. He used to time himself to see how many wheelbarrow fulls he could do in so many minutes. Needless to say this was when he was just a young man full of vitality and you-know-what.
This was the house that he set up housekeeping with his wife, Steph, and they had three children. He then went on to build a wonderful new home where it took him three years because he did everything by himself. In between building a new home, helping to raise three children, and working with Steph, he started working in stone. He started by inlaying her fused glass in the stones. He found out that he enjoyed the calmness that he got when he worked in stone. He put away his wood tools and started working in stones.
Just about the time the family started to settle into the new house, they decided to follow their lifelong dream and move to Colorado. Once again, Joe went back to remodeling the family house. Steph had started ‘the greencat ‘art studio in Salida, Colorado. Joe started putting his stone sculptures and wood furniture in the studio. He remodeled the house and did his art on the side.
Now that the children are almost gone, Joe wants to get back into his stones and wood full time. He will also do this on the side because now he has to remodel his studio that use to be a garage for the last 70 years. I guess fixing things, remodeling, woodworking, and stone carving will always be a way of life for Joe. It’s a good thing he’s a farmboy!
Joe's sculptures
Joe primarily carves on Kansas Limestone, Indiana Limestone, Colorado Marble, Italian marble and African Blackstone.
He makes his own bases with Oak, Tiger Oak, Ash, Black Walnut and various other materials. All stone and wood pieces are one of a kind and original. Dimension and weight vary from piece to piece.
the face
cat
essence of a woman
the spigot
it's ok
henri
baby bearjoe's fine woodwork projects
Joe has been working in wood since 1973. He has always been the tool man. “You are as good as your tools” has always been his motto. He loves his tools and he loves them sharp.
He likes to bring out the natural beauty of each piece of wood with his own creativeness and meticulous craftsmanship. He likes to get a finish on his pieces that are as smooth as a baby’s butt.
His wood pieces are always so inviting to touch because of the design and smoothness.
