Karen Sparks of Nicholas County always wanted something more. After 11 years at Wal-Mart, she turned in her resignation and started creating. She was inspired by a chain saw artist and knew she wanted to do something similar, but completely her own. She started taking old pieces of wood that most folks would through away, and began carving animals, figures, and designs into the ancient wood. After much success, she began working with driftwood. Karen has the unique ability to "see" things in the twisted, knarly branches, and bring them out with an impressive array of power and hand tools. Her work requires many long hikes along local river banks and lakes to gather driftwood, which has left her with a large amount of raw product outside her workshop in Nicholas County.

Person Interviewed: Karen Sparks
Title: Sculptor
Location: Nicholas County, West Virginia
Address: P.O. Box 233, Mount Lookout, WV 26678
Phone: 304-872-4660
Website: www.sparks-woodsculpture.com
EMail: artist@sparks-woodsculpture.com

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