Happy New Year! 2019 was a year of change and growth for us both. Mark's work branched out into home decor with a set of beautiful side tables (spurred by my relentless request for him to carve me a bedside table--which I love, but yes, it's available for sale ;). And now he added these gorgeous, charming, and personalized hearts carved for an engagement and wedding. Brad + Jenn's sculpture was part of a surprise engagement on the beach, which also starred a puppy as the first new family member. The heart then became a centerpiece at the wedding reception. If you've been thinking about...

When art has an everyday function, life is that much sweeter. Introducing Mark's new side tables! These tables are so multi-functional, they both run with the crowd and stands out at the same time. Where can you use one, you ask? How about... [cue auctioneer chant]...Next to a bed, a couch, a chair, a bench, on the deck, the patio, the porch, in the garden, the workshop, the man cave, the she shed, the office, tucked in a reading nook, placed near the the grill, the campfire, the party, any room in a cozy cabin, a lodge, or anywhere you need a surface to set something on. Every wood...

2018 was the year of the bear: all bears, all the time, rain or shine (well, mostly -- it was a ridiculously drenching year). Mark's Rusty, Dually, and Poppyseed bears multiplied like crazy and went to their new families all over the country.

Last night, Mark and I, along with the marketing staff at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, presented the "Hockitar" to it's new owner, Carrie Underwood! The civic center always gives gifts to touring artists. They called upon Mark to carve this custom guitar with a hockey stick neck. Mark burned onto the back of the guitar her name and her husband's name and hockey number (#12 Mike Fisher with the Nashville Predators). Thanks to the Berglund marketing staff, we met Carrie before the show, snapped a photo and talked for a few minutes. When Mark asked how she's able to consistently generate...

We can't believe it's already fall! It seems like February was just yesterday. Mark has been busy with bears of all size and poses along with some very exciting, big projects which we'll talk about in the upcoming posts. For now, here's a round-up of all the sculptures he's been working on this year. Flying Bald Eagle Black Cedar Bear, Ted Custom Rusty Bear for New Grandparents Custom Bear Head Bookend New Cedar Rusty Bears One More Rooster Cartoon-style Beaver

This 5' tall waving black bear holding a catfish was a custom commission from a client in Forest, Virginia. They wanted a friendly bear to place in their circular driveway. Behind their home there is a catfish pond.    

Mark's Poppyseed, Dually and Rusty chainsaw carved wood bears are coming out of hibernation for Christmas! With orders arriving from all over the country, here is the first clan ready to take the polar express to their new owners. We always knew there was something special about these bears' sweet expression. They're like Teddy Bears!

This larger-than-life 3-foot friendly kit fox was commissioned by Kitfox Pediatric Dentistry in Aiken, South Carolina. Their business logo is a fox, and so the owners wanted a child-safe mascot for the waiting area of their dentist office. They wanted kids to be able to play and climb on her if they wanted. The extra-wide base of this wood sculpture keeps her from toppling over, and Mark slightly rounded and softened the edges of the ears, tail and muzzle. The clients wanted a mix between a realistic and cartoon fox with a very warm and engaging expression. When she arrived, the clients sent...

The September/October issue of Lynchburg Living magazine hit the stands and included an awesome feature on Mark's wood sculptures and chainsaw carving. They asked some great questions about his inspiration, process and aspirations. I think you'll enjoy Mark's answers! Mark, you work in several different mediums of art, so how did wood carving become your main focus? I’ve drawn most of my life and have done a lot of portrait, abstract and graphic work. I had always wanted to do sculpture. Marble was attractive but not the easiest to obtain and sculpt. But working in 3-D was where I wanted...

Earlier this spring, Mark's wood sculptures were featured in Central Virginia HOME magazine. Read about how Mark approaches his work and creates art.   Wonders in Wood For wood carver Mark Poleski, being an artisan is truly a full-time job, born from a lifelong love for art of all mediums. “Early on, I constantly would draw to hone my skills,” says Poleski. “I always wanted to work in 3D, to sculpt in stone or wood.” Happily, this artisan made his wishes come true, and he now works at the helm of his own wood-carving studio, Sleepy Hollow Art. Drawing on his 20 years...