Artist's Statement
All my life, I have had a reverence for wood. Its texture, fragrance, and natural color exemplify the
beauty found in and of the earth. At White Eagle Studios I work to unveil the unique story within each
piece of wood, creating a legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Working with wood is a wonderful experience. It is an honor to select a piece of wood, to study the
grain and form, and to consider how best to add or uncover images which symbolize the magic of our
memories, our existence, and our experience. My completed sculptures are intended to deliver a
magical and spiritual message to you, the observer... a message that I hope will rekindle legends
buried deep in our collective memory. I work with inner visions, mystical experiences and ancient
myth to create timeless art.
I have benefited from the guidance of a Swiss master carver, a celebrated North Coast carver born
and raised in the Queen Charlotte Islands as well as many other skilled artists. Each of their diverse
and personal expertise has helped to provide focus and form to my own inner creative force. I use
razor sharp tools which I couple with my own inner creativity to cut clean, deep, meaningful images
from various North American woods. (I favor aromatic wood such as the cedars: Alaska Yellow, Desert,
Port Orford, and Western Red. When I use them, I feel that truly all senses are pleased.)
Now I, in turn, enjoy teaching nearly as much as I enjoy carving.
In the mid-nineteen nineties, I completed a Sioux Chieftain in rich, yellow, aromatic, Alaska Cedar.
He stands, hands out stretched, offering a handcrafted walnut pipe to the Great Spirit, giving thanks
for many blessings. Each meticulously carved detail of his face and form pay tribute to the spirituality
found in wood and on our planet. For me, this piece symbolizes the work of White Eagle Studios.
I select the finest tools to create my art. My favorites are hand crafted by Northwest craftsmen such as
Northbay Forge, Savage Forge, Kestrel Tool, and Drake Knives. Others include the finest of Japanese
master crafted tools of Shirogami Hagane and the famous Swiss Pfeil brand. I believe quality tools
are a necessity to creating quality art.
Brief Biography
I have been enchanted by wood sculpture ever since I was child. My grandmother created the first
carving that I can remember seeing... a Chinese figurine from a pine two-by-four using a paring knife
from her kitchen. She then painted it using food coloring. I remember staring at it for hours at a time
when I visited with her in rural Utah. It amazed me, a figure so beautiful could be hiding in a simple
block of wood... and that my grandmother could carve such a figurine. Ever since, I have been
pursuing my own visions of what can lay beneath the surface of beautiful wood.
My choice of subject matter varies widely. However, I generally choose a subject that tells a story or
relates to the observer in a mystical manner. I have carved literally thousands of objects ranging from
the most simple to the complex found in the grandness of nature and legend. I began carving at the
age of 5 or 6. I started taking art seriously in high school where I won a gold key award in the National
Scholastic Art Competition. I have now carved for over 50 years and hold honors such as Peoples
Choice awards and Judges Choice awards. My work is now found in the collections of many art and
wood enthusiasts.
All my life, I have had a reverence for wood. Its texture, fragrance, and natural color exemplify the
beauty found in and of the earth. At White Eagle Studios I work to unveil the unique story within each
piece of wood, creating a legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Working with wood is a wonderful experience. It is an honor to select a piece of wood, to study the
grain and form, and to consider how best to add or uncover images which symbolize the magic of our
memories, our existence, and our experience. My completed sculptures are intended to deliver a
magical and spiritual message to you, the observer... a message that I hope will rekindle legends
buried deep in our collective memory. I work with inner visions, mystical experiences and ancient
myth to create timeless art.
I have benefited from the guidance of a Swiss master carver, a celebrated North Coast carver born
and raised in the Queen Charlotte Islands as well as many other skilled artists. Each of their diverse
and personal expertise has helped to provide focus and form to my own inner creative force. I use
razor sharp tools which I couple with my own inner creativity to cut clean, deep, meaningful images
from various North American woods. (I favor aromatic wood such as the cedars: Alaska Yellow, Desert,
Port Orford, and Western Red. When I use them, I feel that truly all senses are pleased.)
Now I, in turn, enjoy teaching nearly as much as I enjoy carving.
In the mid-nineteen nineties, I completed a Sioux Chieftain in rich, yellow, aromatic, Alaska Cedar.
He stands, hands out stretched, offering a handcrafted walnut pipe to the Great Spirit, giving thanks
for many blessings. Each meticulously carved detail of his face and form pay tribute to the spirituality
found in wood and on our planet. For me, this piece symbolizes the work of White Eagle Studios.
I select the finest tools to create my art. My favorites are hand crafted by Northwest craftsmen such as
Northbay Forge, Savage Forge, Kestrel Tool, and Drake Knives. Others include the finest of Japanese
master crafted tools of Shirogami Hagane and the famous Swiss Pfeil brand. I believe quality tools
are a necessity to creating quality art.
Brief Biography
I have been enchanted by wood sculpture ever since I was child. My grandmother created the first
carving that I can remember seeing... a Chinese figurine from a pine two-by-four using a paring knife
from her kitchen. She then painted it using food coloring. I remember staring at it for hours at a time
when I visited with her in rural Utah. It amazed me, a figure so beautiful could be hiding in a simple
block of wood... and that my grandmother could carve such a figurine. Ever since, I have been
pursuing my own visions of what can lay beneath the surface of beautiful wood.
My choice of subject matter varies widely. However, I generally choose a subject that tells a story or
relates to the observer in a mystical manner. I have carved literally thousands of objects ranging from
the most simple to the complex found in the grandness of nature and legend. I began carving at the
age of 5 or 6. I started taking art seriously in high school where I won a gold key award in the National
Scholastic Art Competition. I have now carved for over 50 years and hold honors such as Peoples
Choice awards and Judges Choice awards. My work is now found in the collections of many art and
wood enthusiasts.
| White Eagle Studios |
About Michael Keller and
White Eagle Studios
White Eagle Studios
Artist's Statement and Biography
ORCA I
Aromatic Alaska Yellow
Cedar.
Aromatic Alaska Yellow
Cedar.
 |  |  |  |  |
Michael Keller
Finishing a Falcon in aromatic
Desert Cedar.
Finishing a Falcon in aromatic
Desert Cedar.
Eagle in Walnut
Circa 1978
Circa 1978
It is not always easy but I
believe that in order to be a
creative wood carver, we need
to give up the fear of being
wrong.
believe that in order to be a
creative wood carver, we need
to give up the fear of being
wrong.
"Pleasure in the job puts
perfection in the work."
.... Aristotle
How true it is.
perfection in the work."
.... Aristotle
How true it is.
In November, 2006, Michael Keller was featured by Woodworker's Journal e-Zine as its
Today's Woodworker. Read the article at:
Woodworker's Journal Article
Today's Woodworker. Read the article at:
Woodworker's Journal Article
Eagle Carries Sun
Alaska Yellow Cedar
and Western Red Cedar.
Alaska Yellow Cedar
and Western Red Cedar.
Eagle Carries Sun II
Alaska Yellow Cedar
and Walnut.
Alaska Yellow Cedar
and Walnut.
And, a very nice note from this eagle's owner...
"I sit here at my desk looking at a two foot tall bird of prey
(walnut eagle) that you carved at least 25 years ago. The
Brazilian walnut has withstood neglect, moves to Sacramento
and Boston, and two rambunctious sons. Despite all that
adversity, the carving has given me endless joy and I look at it
at least hourly while at my desk. I don’t know how to express
my feelings, other than to say “Thanks!” for the gift (okay, non-
lawyerly term, since I did pay a few thousand for it, but it is still
a gift)."
Bruce Biermann
September 26, 2007
"I sit here at my desk looking at a two foot tall bird of prey
(walnut eagle) that you carved at least 25 years ago. The
Brazilian walnut has withstood neglect, moves to Sacramento
and Boston, and two rambunctious sons. Despite all that
adversity, the carving has given me endless joy and I look at it
at least hourly while at my desk. I don’t know how to express
my feelings, other than to say “Thanks!” for the gift (okay, non-
lawyerly term, since I did pay a few thousand for it, but it is still
a gift)."
Bruce Biermann
September 26, 2007
The high mission of art is, by its illusions, to foreshadow a higher universe reality, to crystallize the emotions of time into
thought of eternity. The Urantia Book
thought of eternity. The Urantia Book