Recycled Wood Sculptures

Artist Michael Ferris Jr. created these beautiful human sculptures entirely from recycled wood pieces and acrylic pigmented grout.

The making of a sculpture starts with collecting wood and cutting them into certain shapes.

“I always have more than enough in supply. It is frankly everywhere. Old discarded futon frames, wood wine racks, chairs, tables etc. I also find a lot of wood in its raw form, discarded 2x4s, 1x8s, etc. I have various places around NYC that I know regularly throw out wood pieces large and small. Also all my friends know I will take just about any wood or wood products they are throwing away so I am getting calls from them fairly regularly” says Michael.

Michael cuts a portion of the collected wood into basic shapes that will be used for the sculpture’s form. And, another portion will be cut into blocks for his additive building process. The remaining wood will be run through a router and cut into small pieces, and these are ones that’s going to be used for the wood overlay pattern.

According to Michael, planning a new sculpture involves many drawings, and once he comes up with a form the sculpture is going to take, he builds the basic wood structure. Then he shapes the piece until the basic form is complete. This step is followed by covering the entire sculpture with the first overlay, sanding the piece and then filling the spaces between the wood overlay with pigmented grout. After that Michael again sands the piece and goes into the sculpture with a second and third layer of overlay. And, finally the structure gets one last sanding and shaping, and a beautiful sculpture is made.

Artist - Michael Ferris Jr. http://www.michaelferrisjr.com/ (Thank You!)