Joyride

About the Artist

Stephen Huneck's home and studio are in St. Johnsbury, Vermont which he shares with his wife, Gwen and his three dogs. Two Black Labs Artie and Sally and Molly a Golden Retriever. Stephen and Gwen have totally furnished their home with Stephen's artwork. He works in his private studio attached to their house. Near their home is Dog Mountain where the Dog Chapel is located. You can often meet Stephen at his primary gallery in Woodstock, VT on Saturdays personalizing books and artwork.

"I am a hand-carver, I love the texture you can only get by hand" seen here in his studio with his Dalmatian, Dottie. Stephen has a collection of tools consisting of over 150 chisels, 30 hand planes and axes. As a hand carver, Stephen finds himself carving almost everyday of the year, taking time off to walk with his dogs.

A self-taught sculptor, Stephen started out as an antique furniture picker. " I learned so much about good design and how to build furniture that lasts forever".

Luckily he was discovered after doing his very first woodcarving, an angel. Stephen then began his life as an artist. In 1994 Stephen suffered from Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome after falling down a flight of stairs which left him in a coma for two months. The doctors were not hopeful but with the help of his wife, Gwen, Stephen had a full recovery. He had to relearn everything from how to walk to how to sign his name. Just before the accident, Stephen was inspired to do a series of woodcut prints based on his dog "Sally." After waking up from the coma, Stephen immediately began work on those woodcuts. The first woodcut he carved was "Life Is A Ball" celebrating his new found life.

After this near death experience, Stephen had a vision to build a Dog Chapel, "A place where people can go and celebrate the spiritual bond they have with their dogs. It is the largest artwork of my life and my most personal."

Stephen has also written 4 books inspired by his black Lab, Sally. The classic "My Dog's Brain" and a series of children's books "Sally Goes to the Beach", "Sally Goes to the Mountains", "Sally Goes to the Farm" and the newly released "Sally Goes to the Vet" illustrated with his vibrant woodcut prints. Stephen has carved out a niche in the art world as a sculptor with a playful twist.