The natural world not only excites my senses and perception of that world but also challenges my imagination. From an early age I was fascinated by the beauty found in nature. All of my large sculptures start with the textures and shapes that nature creates. This particular piece I had observed for several years along the creek of Bullwinkle Ravine before bringing it home. It sat in my yard for another two years. Only with time was I ready to let my hands and chisels make their mark. By then, the snake, the hands reaching for the sky, all seemed to be present long before I even noticed it in the woods.