Stump Art

STUMP ART

This all started when I collected and photographed an interesting stump I had found in the woods. It has graduated from just one piece of wood or stump to what I now call ‘Stump Art’. So, to begin, I collect interestingly shaped old stumps,sticks, branches, logs, roots from trees now long gone. Once I have a collection start working on a composition by stacking, leaning, hooking, balancing and-or placing pieces where they fit. I do not pre-plan or try to make it look like something in particular, I just put the pieces together until I ‘feel’ it is done.

When done, I will photograph it from all different angles and heights, day and-or night. When shooting at night I use a small solar spot light to light up the piece and I use nothing else.

When done shooting I edit the photos or I also use pre-edits. This helps to bring out, or even exaggerate some of the complexities and all the varied colors, lines, shapes and textures found in wood. When I am done it then becomes a ‘Stump Art’, photograph.

I found when I first showed some photographs to a group of people, that Stump Art is a great conversation piece. I think it is almost a human trait that when looking at something not understood one will do whatever is necessary in his ‘minds-eye’ to make some sense of it. And part of having it make sense is to look at parts, pieces and areas and try to make them either a part of the whole or just have them stand out from the rest on their own. Anything in order to have it make sense so they know what they are looking at. At least that has been my experience. Once a viewer has made sense they will want to explain it to others, while they point to each area of the photograph explaining its part in the whole and when the others see it too there is one satisfied viewer. Stump Art has so many areas that can ‘be something that makes sense to the viewer’, it is very rare that two viewers will see the same thing. I always hope the viewer will find something in each composition.
I want the viewers to slip into the deep end of their imagination and let their minds-eye go to work without preconceived thoughts regarding what they are looking at which is why I do not name the photos I just identify them as Stump Art. I leave the naming to each viewer and I love to see them working out in their mind what they looking at, good exercise for the mind, that is why I do Stump Art, to give the viewer a chance to work in his minds eye. And really, in the process the viewer develops a kind of relationship with my photos.

My Stump Art photos have been bought for use on t-shirts, bags even had one done on a coffee cup. They are liked by the ‘outdoorsy’ type, folks who like trailing and camping, canoeing and kayaking or any sort of outdoor activity. And teenagers really like them because it is possible to get one nobody else has. They make great presents because no two are alike, nowhere near alike!


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