Roger Day is a wood sculptor who loves trees. He uses his art to show how trees are important for our planet and our lives. He makes different kinds of sculptures, from realistic to abstract, and also designs furniture. He works for both private and public clients.

Roger is not only an artist, but also a toolmaker. He creates his own carving bits to shape the wood. When he was at Buffalo Creek Art Center, he made some new tools in the machine shop and used them to carve some small sculptures and a large outdoor bench. The bench is called Land of Many Suns and sits by one of the ponds in the Sculpture Park.

“My residency at Buffalo Creek Arts Centre felt like stumbling upon an oasis. Everything about it was lush with positive energy. The unbelievably inspiring beauty of the almost 360-degree mountains held me in a trance of creative fever. It sometimes felt like I was in an artist’s paradise. Steve was a true gentleman, and together with his wonderful wife Lana and their awesome support team, Mel and Bill, feeling welcome and empowered every day was easy. What more could I have wanted? The accommodation was first-class. My companions were amazing, all so supportive and strangely so much like me! We had a lot of fun, and having such companions daily was an absolute luxury compared to my otherwise solitary career. The workshop spaces were almost overwhelming in their facility. The sculpture collection was inspirational beyond words. Everything was there. I was in my element, but I only had one whole month to use it!

My motive for doing this was clear. I was going to grow and develop all aspects of my art. The learning curve was so much steeper than the safety of my own comfort zone.

As a passionate tool maker, I was drawn to the well-equipped machine shop, as yet unused by any visiting artist. I could have spent the rest of my life in there, tinkering with all the machines, fascinated by drawers upon drawers of exciting engineering curiosities. The first weeks flew past as I developed several wood sculpting tools, eventually using them to create maquettes, then scaling up towards a larger work, which I hoped would mirror all the influences that surrounded me; the magnificent landscape, the plethora of sculptures on the lawns, the wonderful friendships, and interactions with everyone.

Proudly, in the last few days, what arrived was my sculptural bench, “In The Land of Many Suns.” Unexpectedly, I found such joy in whatever I made, with little false expectation or self-judgment left. I had my prize in the learning curve, the gift of the journey, and the work I left behind on my return to the UK is a memory I will treasure. I hope that visitors will enjoy it too. Maybe some will sit on my bench and reflect on the exceptional view and the creative force of this magical place. Thank you so much, Steve, and everyone who shared this vision. My reward is huge.”

– Roger Day

Artist’s Interview