Meet the Maker
A passion for shaping wood was apparent in Andy’s life since childhood, from carving small figures with a knife as a child, to carving a series of wooden masks for a high school art project. After studying music at the University of Guelph, Andy decided to pursue his passion in woodworking.
He completed the Cabinetmaking program at Humber College, where he studied under the tutelage of master woodworker Mark Paddison. Mark’s ability to teach the fundamentals of furniture design through his own brilliant exploration of form and function have inspired Andy to this day.
Upon completing his cabinetmaking certificate, Andy apprenticed for three years with Swiss-Canadian master woodcarver Siggi Buhler. Of Swiss-Canadian heritage himself, Andy was introduced by Siggi to the specific method of traditional Swiss woodcarving. Andy’s formal carving skills were developed at this time, but he also had the opportunity to take a deep dive into the world of abstract art and sculpture, as Siggi’s genius is not limited to the traditional. Many a coffee break was spent examining and discussing the works of the great masters.
Siggi often reminded Andy that “when you shape wood, you yourself are shaped in return”. Andy has found this to be the case, and wood has been shaping Andy throughout the 20+ years that he has been providing meaningful furniture pieces for his customers. His love and care for both the material and the woodworking process are evident in his work, and his pieces are designed to bring harmony into any environment. Courage Wood Studio operates out of locations in Toronto and Muskoka, Ontario, and Andy has completed works for clients living in the following cities:
Sammamish
Napa
Boulder
University Park
Trenton
Scarsdale
Miami
Palm Beach
San Jose
Austin
Sag Harbor
Fremont
Palo Alto
Sunnyvale
San Ramon
Short Hills
Bethesda
Milpitas
Newton
Toronto
Muskoka
Ottawa
Montreal
Calgary
Vancouver
New York
Los Angeles
Houston
