Mark began carving many years ago, but says he became serious about it in the early 1990’s. He is a self-taught carver and an avid reader of carving books written by the best carvers in the country. Mark’s work has gone through many phases. He loves the sea and surf fishing and has carved several hundred natural wood sea creatures, ships and lighthouses. Over the past ten years, he has been focused on natural wood carvings of Kentucky flora and fauna, wood spirits, and detailed songbirds. Most of Mark’s natural wood carvings are made from Kentucky hardwoods and many of his bases are cedar and sassafras driftwood “fished out of Kentucky lakes.” He uses tupelo and basswood for the bodies of his detailed bird carvings to insure high quality surfaces for burning in the feather details. Mark’s work is currently sold and displayed throughout the State of Kentucky and is in private collections in over 20 states.