Many martial art masters throughout the ages also expressed themselves and their skill, as well as refined their skills through various types of art. Whether that was painting, dance, calligraphy, woodwork, fiber work or any other artistic expression that could be practiced, the aim was a continual pursuit of personal discovery and self refinement through the world itself. For me I have always enjoyed the arts. I painted for years and today I create handmade dream catchers.
I have always loved creating things of beauty from natural materials that are filled with energy. All my life I have been fascinated by tribal craft from Native American to Viking, Celtic to the Asian continent and so on. Through the years I have studied and crafted many unique pieces of nature Art utilizing the many natural materials found in the wilderness, while holding the respect and memory of the people’s who brought these creative patterns through the ages. I see the practice of Nature Arts based upon ancient cultures to be a link, a bridge from today’s world to the world in-which once was; something to keep alive memory and the beauty of those cultures.
For a while I was drawn to the creation of dream catchers, both single hoop and double hoop. I use natural, high quality materials like bone, horn, semiprecious stones, glass, leather, wood, seeds, nuts, shells, feathers, fur, hair, resin, and metals. Nothing plastic is found on anything I create. I place great care in what I craft and every piece is unique, I follow no patterns. Instead I allow the natural materials speak to me and guide my hand to take the shapes they form to best. The hoops are made from a variety of materials I harvest from the forests in Vermont; beech, ash, maple, oak, willow, pine, hemlock, grape, birch, aspen and more.
Here you will not find what you see in so many places these days – inexpensive cheap slapstick manufactured “dream catchers” from some Chinese factory made with synthetic pieces and glue. Most all dream catchers you find on sites like amazon and ebay are made in factories in countries like Thailand and China, or from a kit and sell for a few bucks, and you get what you pay for.
The ones I make are Real, Original, created with Respect and Passion for the origins of the materials and truly reflect that reverence in their presentation. It is very simple, if I made it and do not like it, I do not sell it. I believe in craftsmanship, something the modern world is losing to the fast paced demands of instant gratification.
I have always loved creating things of beauty from natural materials that are filled with energy. All my life I have been fascinated by tribal craft from Native American to Viking, Celtic to the Asian continent and so on. Through the years I have studied and crafted many unique pieces of nature Art utilizing the many natural materials found in the wilderness, while holding the respect and memory of the people’s who brought these creative patterns through the ages. I see the practice of Nature Arts based upon ancient cultures to be a link, a bridge from today’s world to the world in-which once was; something to keep alive memory and the beauty of those cultures.
For a while I was drawn to the creation of dream catchers, both single hoop and double hoop. I use natural, high quality materials like bone, horn, semiprecious stones, glass, leather, wood, seeds, nuts, shells, feathers, fur, hair, resin, and metals. Nothing plastic is found on anything I create. I place great care in what I craft and every piece is unique, I follow no patterns. Instead I allow the natural materials speak to me and guide my hand to take the shapes they form to best. The hoops are made from a variety of materials I harvest from the forests in Vermont; beech, ash, maple, oak, willow, pine, hemlock, grape, birch, aspen and more.
Here you will not find what you see in so many places these days – inexpensive cheap slapstick manufactured “dream catchers” from some Chinese factory made with synthetic pieces and glue. Most all dream catchers you find on sites like amazon and ebay are made in factories in countries like Thailand and China, or from a kit and sell for a few bucks, and you get what you pay for.
The ones I make are Real, Original, created with Respect and Passion for the origins of the materials and truly reflect that reverence in their presentation. It is very simple, if I made it and do not like it, I do not sell it. I believe in craftsmanship, something the modern world is losing to the fast paced demands of instant gratification.
Below you can browse through some examples of my work. Many of those were made and sold and some are for sale through the following links.
To visit my online store visit VikingWolfCraft on ETSY.
To visit my online store visit VikingWolfCraft on ETSY.
Holding to the traditions of my Norse, Dane and Helvetian genetics I enjoy creating House Shields or Rune Shields. These are 1x17.75” laminated pine shields. Each slat of pine is cut and sanded, then glued to adjacent pieces, allowed to dry and then sanded again to create a round shield.
Once I layout the design I woodburn the shield. After the front and back are finished I apply numerous coats of water based polyurethane to protect the wood from exposure to elements. I use the water based poly because I don’t enjoy the toxic fumes of regular poly.
House or Rune Shields are created using ancient symbols from the peoples of Scandinavian, old Teutonic and Helvetian lineage. Sometimes along with the symbols runes from the 24 Elder Futhark are also placed on the shields as well as filler designs to tie the elements together.
Traditionally they are placed on a door or wall of a house or other building where gatherings take place, like a talisman, for protection or amplification of other energies from the natural elements found in this life; prosperity, health, friendship, fertility, happiness and so on.
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The Drinking Horn and bugle or signal horn has long been associated with the Scandinavian’s and the Viking era, but they were also very popular with the Anglo-Saxons and the Celtic people, especially around Wales and Ireland. In many of those cultures the Drinking Horn was more heavily used by “nobility” rather than “common folk” that used bowls and wooden cups. Materials such as leather, antler, metal, ceramic, bone, stone and wood were also used to make drinking vessels, not just horn.
The Drinking Horns and signal horns used by many of the Scandinavian people’s during the Viking era were from a now extinct bovine called Aurochs, which were huge animals from which modern day cattle stemmed. They brandished horns that spread two and half feet each and could stand six feet at the shoulders!
I get each steer horn in the rough. After sanding them down I scrub and wash them thoroughly. Then I sand the mouth. Once sanded and cleaned I heat the horn in the oven and polish the exterior with a buff rag and bees wax. When the horn shines I scrub the interior again and wash thoroughly. Once again I heat them in the oven and apply bees wax to the interior to seal the horn. Using quality leather of deer, cattle, elk, goat or sheep, I cut and braid heavy duty straps.
For a number of years I've been making custom order "mountain man" leather shirts that combine styles of Native American, Scandinavian and Alps region cultures. Below you will find a few examples of one's I have made.
If you are interested you can check out what I have available in my shop : Viking Craft Store
Once I layout the design I woodburn the shield. After the front and back are finished I apply numerous coats of water based polyurethane to protect the wood from exposure to elements. I use the water based poly because I don’t enjoy the toxic fumes of regular poly.
House or Rune Shields are created using ancient symbols from the peoples of Scandinavian, old Teutonic and Helvetian lineage. Sometimes along with the symbols runes from the 24 Elder Futhark are also placed on the shields as well as filler designs to tie the elements together.
Traditionally they are placed on a door or wall of a house or other building where gatherings take place, like a talisman, for protection or amplification of other energies from the natural elements found in this life; prosperity, health, friendship, fertility, happiness and so on.
~~~
The Drinking Horn and bugle or signal horn has long been associated with the Scandinavian’s and the Viking era, but they were also very popular with the Anglo-Saxons and the Celtic people, especially around Wales and Ireland. In many of those cultures the Drinking Horn was more heavily used by “nobility” rather than “common folk” that used bowls and wooden cups. Materials such as leather, antler, metal, ceramic, bone, stone and wood were also used to make drinking vessels, not just horn.
The Drinking Horns and signal horns used by many of the Scandinavian people’s during the Viking era were from a now extinct bovine called Aurochs, which were huge animals from which modern day cattle stemmed. They brandished horns that spread two and half feet each and could stand six feet at the shoulders!
I get each steer horn in the rough. After sanding them down I scrub and wash them thoroughly. Then I sand the mouth. Once sanded and cleaned I heat the horn in the oven and polish the exterior with a buff rag and bees wax. When the horn shines I scrub the interior again and wash thoroughly. Once again I heat them in the oven and apply bees wax to the interior to seal the horn. Using quality leather of deer, cattle, elk, goat or sheep, I cut and braid heavy duty straps.
For a number of years I've been making custom order "mountain man" leather shirts that combine styles of Native American, Scandinavian and Alps region cultures. Below you will find a few examples of one's I have made.
If you are interested you can check out what I have available in my shop : Viking Craft Store
Reviews:
“I ordered a double hoop dream catcher from White Wolf after receiving a cougar claw necklace he made for me. I was so impressed with the necklace and its quality I knew I had to have him make me a dream catcher. When I received it in the mail I was so taken by its beauty and energy! It’s so beautiful and nothing like the mass produced one I bought in a gift shop last year. Since I’ve hung it up I’ve received more comments on it than anything else in my house. It’s an amazing piece of work! Thank you White Wolf.”
L.P – North Carolina
“I recently received my custom dream catcher from White Wolf and was truly blown away. I have come to realize that will always be my reaction when receiving something hand made from Wolf. Outside of the superb craftsmanship and authentic look, it felt so me! Ordering anything custom from White Wolf allows him to apply one of his very rare to find esoteric skills of sensing your uniqueness, and applying it to your order making it a powerful and beautiful item just for you. Everyone that has seen it has asked me about it and how to get one. I hung my dream catcher over my bed and it not only looks amazing but seems to bring me peace, grounding, strength and sometimes even a better sleep “
Matthew – New Jersey
“While unwrapping the newly arrived double dream catcher, quiet waves of energy emerged from it. “Interesting,” I thought, “these energies feel as if ‘they are me’.” My opinion has not changed.
Netting, woven within encircled willow vines, forms a void in its center. It is a perfect oval. Within this egg-form hangs a small dream catcher. Suspended here and there are small polished stones and trinkets of etched, painted bone spools, anchored by a Canadian goose feather. Almost like a memory box, all in a swirl of netting.
White Wolf, you have done it again! You have blended a traditional concept into your own multidimensional storytelling with nature’s material. How can several circles form so much meaning? It will take some time to unravel the secrets woven within them and their accompanying treasures.
What more can be said than White Wolf’s dream catchers are works of art, filled with energy and mystery for the recipient to discover. Thank you, White Wolf!”
E.F – North Dakota
“What a wonderful gift arrived in my box- It is a rare day when I open a something I gift myself with. Such joy and delight and magic and wisdom and love we all encoded in your craft. Thank you so much, it is very special and dear to me. I placed it in front of the window where I work and I am going use it as a reminder to be balanced and connected.”
Lucy – New York
I received this beautiful dream catcher extremely quick and absolutely love it! It is extremely well made, with such loving attention to detail and high quality materials, the pictures don't even do it justice! Now, to get a bit esoteric for a second: I bought it for a friend who was being plagued by nightmares every night for weeks. I guess I kinda believed in the idea of dream catchers but I really bought it more as a loving gesture and not really expected it to make her bad dreams go away... Well, guess what, that very night after I had put it up over her bedside the nightmares actually, really did stop and haven't come back since!! I am still a little bit in disbelief over it but I can't deny that Element Mountain's dream catcher really did do what it was supposed to do. : ) I would give 6 stars if I could! Thank you!
Seb - California
“I ordered a double hoop dream catcher from White Wolf after receiving a cougar claw necklace he made for me. I was so impressed with the necklace and its quality I knew I had to have him make me a dream catcher. When I received it in the mail I was so taken by its beauty and energy! It’s so beautiful and nothing like the mass produced one I bought in a gift shop last year. Since I’ve hung it up I’ve received more comments on it than anything else in my house. It’s an amazing piece of work! Thank you White Wolf.”
L.P – North Carolina
“I recently received my custom dream catcher from White Wolf and was truly blown away. I have come to realize that will always be my reaction when receiving something hand made from Wolf. Outside of the superb craftsmanship and authentic look, it felt so me! Ordering anything custom from White Wolf allows him to apply one of his very rare to find esoteric skills of sensing your uniqueness, and applying it to your order making it a powerful and beautiful item just for you. Everyone that has seen it has asked me about it and how to get one. I hung my dream catcher over my bed and it not only looks amazing but seems to bring me peace, grounding, strength and sometimes even a better sleep “
Matthew – New Jersey
“While unwrapping the newly arrived double dream catcher, quiet waves of energy emerged from it. “Interesting,” I thought, “these energies feel as if ‘they are me’.” My opinion has not changed.
Netting, woven within encircled willow vines, forms a void in its center. It is a perfect oval. Within this egg-form hangs a small dream catcher. Suspended here and there are small polished stones and trinkets of etched, painted bone spools, anchored by a Canadian goose feather. Almost like a memory box, all in a swirl of netting.
White Wolf, you have done it again! You have blended a traditional concept into your own multidimensional storytelling with nature’s material. How can several circles form so much meaning? It will take some time to unravel the secrets woven within them and their accompanying treasures.
What more can be said than White Wolf’s dream catchers are works of art, filled with energy and mystery for the recipient to discover. Thank you, White Wolf!”
E.F – North Dakota
“What a wonderful gift arrived in my box- It is a rare day when I open a something I gift myself with. Such joy and delight and magic and wisdom and love we all encoded in your craft. Thank you so much, it is very special and dear to me. I placed it in front of the window where I work and I am going use it as a reminder to be balanced and connected.”
Lucy – New York
I received this beautiful dream catcher extremely quick and absolutely love it! It is extremely well made, with such loving attention to detail and high quality materials, the pictures don't even do it justice! Now, to get a bit esoteric for a second: I bought it for a friend who was being plagued by nightmares every night for weeks. I guess I kinda believed in the idea of dream catchers but I really bought it more as a loving gesture and not really expected it to make her bad dreams go away... Well, guess what, that very night after I had put it up over her bedside the nightmares actually, really did stop and haven't come back since!! I am still a little bit in disbelief over it but I can't deny that Element Mountain's dream catcher really did do what it was supposed to do. : ) I would give 6 stars if I could! Thank you!
Seb - California
To visit my Dream Catcher Store page please track on over here: Dream Catcher Store
I also sell on Ebay through my wifes account: More Dream Catchers
I also sell on Ebay through my wifes account: More Dream Catchers
PAINTINGS
The following are some of the many paintings I've worked up over the many years I painted. These are posted here just for show, they are not for sale, just display.
The following are some of the many paintings I've worked up over the many years I painted. These are posted here just for show, they are not for sale, just display.
