About The Artist
My interest in art began when as a young man
I spent a year in Alaska and studied Northwest
Native American forms, materials, and carving
methods. Then life took a different turn and for
the next fifteen years I lived and worked in
Europe, Canada, and the Caribbean, sailing
vessels and I became a pilot. When I returned
to the States I again began using Northern
traditional methods, carving in stone and wood,
and built kayaks adapting their methods with
modern techniques. Since 1999 I have returned
to Alaska several times, renewing my passion
for the art form.
I began by carving antlers and soon moved on to
using fossil Alaskan ivory. In my early work in
jewelry I was influenced by Northwest design but
soon I developed my own style, designing and
creating necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Every
piece is entirely handmade using fossil ivory, silver
or gold, employing meticulous workmanship in
each one of my original designs.
-Roland