Butterfield Garage December Feature Artist is Jim Rivers, a “Wizard of Wood”

Jim has been practicing woodcraft since he was a child when he began helping his uncle search the woods for just the right piece of wood. Over a lifetime, Jim has developed an eye for seeing potential in unusual pieces of wood. “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to walk through the countryside and find a piece of the Almighty’s creation that I can take home, cut and polish, and turn into something that people will like.” His impressive wood collection includes cedar, sweet gum, oak, and pine.

Lately, Jim has been focusing on sculptures. “A lot of times I’ll bring a piece of wood home, and I know there is something in there, but I can’t quite see it.” He studies a piece of wood to work out what’s already in there. He often discovers mythical creatures and shapes the sculpture to bring out those elements.

What an untrained eye might see as an imperfection, Jim sees as an opportunity. Crude logs are sawed, shaped, and sanded, coaxed by his touch and sense of the wood’s potential. Edges are not precise. Surprises are embraced. The final finished piece is a work of art, no two pieces are alike. Jim works in his wood shop every day and is continually collecting new wood and experimenting with new techniques.

Butterfield has been graced with his mirrors, tables, and benches for years, and they have become enthusiastically collected. Butterfield Garage will be freshly stocked with new pieces, and placed throughout the gallery during the month of December.