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My name is Larry Wood, and I've been self-employed as an artist/artisan for most of my adult life. I trained as a painter, sculptor and printmaker and later spent several years as a trader in antiquities and oddities. I evolved into an artisan of handcrafted custom signs and graphics and practiced that craft for many years until I saw computerized cad/cam machines making it possible for anyone to produce readable if not particularly graceful signage. So I creatively moved on.
I wandered into maskmaking seemingly by accident. My interest in masks developed out of a long-held artistic fascination with the human face and form, especially when disguised, shrouded or seen indirectly. Such images have repeatedly arisen in my artworks. In the mid-80s I created Fantasy Guilde Studios as a means to express similar images, concepts and representations in the medium of leather masks. At first my masks were primarily abstract shapes, which later evolved into fanciful evocations of recognizable images. Simple leaves, moons and goblins were among my earliest figural expressions and remain in my repertoire of designs. Over the years I've been developing more complex designs and elaborate, thematic pieces. It's always interesting to me to see what arises when next I relax my schedule long enough to play with new ideas.
Here is my Pompous Artist's Statement: "As a maskmaker, I am participating in a journey begun at the dawn of human existence. Like pottery and tool making, maskmaking is possibly one of the most ancient forms of craft known. Some of the oldest artworks still in existence, the cave paintings of southern Europe, show people in masked imagery. Perhaps this is shamanic, perhaps simply a hunter's camouflage, perhaps some other answer we can not perceive from our modern perspective - yet these ancient images remain as a testimonial to the masks danced by our earliest known ancestors. Since this prehistoric start, nearly every culture has at some time in it's history utilized masks in ritual or social form. In spiritual and religious ceremony, they evoke the gods, spirits and elements. In theatre, they convey a symbolic imagery unsatisfied by other means. In revelry, they bestow upon the wearer the permission to reveal some hidden facet of their personality. And as objects, they silently speak across these portals to otherness.
"While it is true that the source for any aesthetic image may be found in the collective, primal mythos of our species, or in the iconography of our diverse cultural array, my creations are artistic objects only. Humbly, I do not make a claim for any magical, mystical or spiritual properties in my work, regardless of their final use or intent of purpose. Despite saying this, masks remain magic."
I truly like what I do for a living. During certain times of the year I work extremely hard at it. Especially during the Maryland Renaissance Festival I work 60-70 hours a week in production in addition to 20+ hours on the weekend selling my work and attending my booth. I do at least 99% of the work that goes into each mask.
You are The Magician
Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity.
Eleoquent and charismatic both verbally and in writing, you are clever, witty, inventive and persuasive.
The Magician is the male power of creation, creation by willpower and desire. In that ancient sense, it is the ability to make things so just by speaking them aloud. Reflecting this is the fact that the Magician is represented by Mercury. He represents the gift of tongues, a smooth talker, a salesman. Also clever with the slight of hand and a medicine man - either a real doctor or someone trying to sell you snake oil.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.