Patrick Covell Artist Statement
As a child, growing up on a farm nurtured my sense of practicality and attention to the function of object. As I became interested in furniture I found myself opposed to overly complex designs, which I regarded as needlessly overdesigned. In my approach to design, form, structure, and practicality take precedence over style. My childhood connection with nature is the driving influence of my work. I work mainly with familiar Canadian hard and Softwoods, crafting objects that are both clean and honest; allowing the inherent beauty of the material to speak for itself. As a craftsman and designer, my awareness of material has given me a greater appreciation of nature and environmental responsibility. As the world becomes increasingly contaminated by disposable commercial by products, I strive to oppose this trend and create simple, hand worked objects that encourage everyone to connect with it; to understand its roots and why it has been designed and built.