Bob has only been making sculptures for the past decade. He primarily works with urban tree fall and prefers to work on entire logs. Working in the Bay Area, most of his wood comes from within a few feet of his studios, so he knows the stories of the trees, where they grew, when they came down, and how many years they have sat drying in his corral. Using only angle grinders and sanders, he carves outside year-round under the shade of an old cedar tree. In mid-2024, he made his first attempt at carving a human form, and it has captivated him ever since.

“What I wanted for myself with this residency at Buffalo Creek was an opportunity to get away from my studio and my day-to-day obligations and play. That was my one goal – to play. I wanted to use my time there to explore some ideas, work on a larger scale than I had before, and work on a number of pieces simultaneously. The opportunity to be away, at a beautiful location, was invigorating, and having other artists around was motivating and inspiring every morning.
I would definitely recommend this opportunity to anyone—a chance to get away, to take yourself out of your day-to-day, and to really immerse yourself in your work—such a gratifying and unusual opportunity to push yourself into new directions.”

– Bob Houser

Artist’s Interview