home about us purchasing information lions & grizzly bear :: gallery 1 bark carvings :: gallery 2 cape buffalo :: gallery 3 female figure torso :: gallery 4 bluegill & goldfish :: gallery 5 mountain goat :: gallery 6 musical notes & leaves :: gallery 7 shore birds :: gallery 8 trinity-celtic cross :: gallery 9 featured works  © pending. All rights Reserved 2005.  website by ruralrepublic.com

This Site is dedicated to the Awards Recognized Art of John Gnagi and Jean Gnagi. African Mask. Sculpted in wax "Where my carving interest began in 1978" Their Images are either sculptured in relief or in the round. The subjects vary considerably, and are primarily miniatures, generally standing no more than 12" high. Most of the sculpted pieces are hand carved woods. However some sculpture is pewter cast. Sculpted pieces are either hand painted, or the finished carved wood is clear sealed and/or stained. Painting promotes a realistic look of the subject while a natural finish more traditionally allows the grain and wood tones to enhance the subjects. At times the wood at hand will help suggest the subject to be carved, there is an intangible quality that some blocks of wood possess that can drive subject selection, but as a rule the subject directs the search for the right piece of wood. Some of our carvings are hand painted when a more realistic representation of the subject is sought, like birds. Most of the pieces are carved, using Michigan grown woods. Basswood, pine, and tupelo is the wood of choice when painting is the intended finish. A natural finish is the more traditional finish allowing the grain and wood tones to shine thru. Black walnut, cherry, butternut and mahogany have been used then. Every naturally finished carving has it's own unique statement because of the wood used. Some of our sculpted pieces that have attracted continuing interest have been cast in pewter using molds we have developed. Please bookmark this site to see on going works and visit the updated galleries frequently.