Open Tuesday - Saturday from 10 am through 3 pm
Michael Blubaugh
Sometimes we don't realize we are artistically inclined until the right occasion or opportunity presents itself and then we find we are hopelessly hooked into pursuing our art. That's exactly what happened to Michael Blubaugh who, after retiring back to Tucson from 20 years in the Air Force, found his new love quite by accident after purchasing a sign business. It was the artistic aspect of this business which he ran with his wife, that inspired Michael to explore an interest in self expression through art. His first foray was into sandblasted wood and flagstone, but as he studied and learned more about wood and then aluminum, he expanded his interests and exploration which has lead to preservation of the beauty of nature in new ways.
Michael found a particular fondness for working with wood as he found that no two pieces of wood are exactly the same even if from the same species of tree, especially once they dry out. As he looks for unique pieces of palo verde, mesquite, or acacia, often on his Tucson property, the wood speaks to him, giving inspiration for bringing out its beauty in its best form and expression. Some pieces of wood lend themselves to candlesticks, others to vessels for flowers or salad, still others to goblet bases, boxes, whistles, pasta dryers, etc., even walking sticks. The possibilities are endless!
In his wood creations, Michael uses a variety of techniques, making resin pictures on some, using electricity to give texture and design to others, and a lathe to create shape or bring out the beauty of the grain and shape for still others, which one can especially see in his vase containers. Some pieces also have turquoise inlay. Even those who live in the desert and see the trees daily are amazed at the beauty of these trees, given a new life, that can now adorn their home in an original and beautiful way.
Michael also especially enjoys creating aluminum ant mound sculptures which is his way of preserving what nature has so beautifully and intricately created. He finds the fact that different species of ants create different shaped tunnels and that while two tunnel groups may have been made by the same species, the tunnels are still different. Not only do customers find the sculptures beautiful and intriguing, they also find the process fascinating, One can see process pictures at the Leaping Lizard.
