Papa Bear WoodWorking®
Peter Rogalski - Artistic woodworking, merging fine craftsmanship with design to create meaningful, functional art
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United Kingdom
About
I’m a wood artist and storyteller based in Mayfield, Scotland, working under the name Papa Bear. My practice focuses on two core art forms: Story Clocks and Organic Wood Art Forms, hand-shaped pieces created where craft, narrative and natural material meet.
My Story Clocks are functional sculptures. Each begins as raw, imperfect wood, chosen for its grain, weight or history. I shape every piece using a blend of hand tools and power tools, working slowly and deliberately. I do not use CNC or automated carving. Every curve and surface is guided by my hands and by the natural form of the timber. Resin, brass, burning and traditional techniques are used only when they serve the story already living in the wood. The result is a clock that measures time, but more importantly, carries meaning.
My Organic Wood Art Forms emerge in much the same way, intuitively and without forcing the material into a predetermined shape. Some pieces are not meant to hold a clock and instead become sculptural artefacts in their own right. These forms are guided by texture, tension, flow and the character of the grain.
I believe every piece of wood holds its own story. My role is to reveal it through patience, handwork and a quiet respect for the material. Every collection I create follows this philosophy, and one clock from each series is always given away as a gift. It reminds me that art is not only meant to be made, but also shared.
My aim is to continue developing Story Clocks as a recognised artistic form, while also exploring deeper and more expressive Wood Art Forms rooted in narrative, craft and the natural world.
Peter Rogalski - Papa Bear.
Mini craft gallery
