Stone artist Shane Schaaf doesn't take on avant-garde artsy projects only. His company, Earthscape Stoneworks, designs and installs some fairly traditional patios, fireplaces and retaining walls.
But he's become a go-to guy for those who want something unique for their landscape: a mosaic wall, dog caves, courtyards studded with stained glass or semiprecious gems, gravity-defying stone columns that appear to bend like overcooked spaghetti.
His slogan is "Teaching old stones new tricks."
"My goal is to create a sense of joy and wonder for people within their home and landscape," he said. "Everyone can have a wonder-filled space."
Stone isn't his only medium. He also works with metal and "woodgraph," a term he coined to describe the art of stacking reclaimed wood. "But I enjoy the freedom that stone offers," he said. "Stone is a very versatile material. Anything you want to build with stone, you pretty much can."
Many of his designs look fanciful but they're always designed to address a client's practical need. "Someone needs something for a reason," he said. "It can't just be cool. Otherwise, I'd just build in the studio."
A cloister for a cul-de-sac
In one client's front yard, for example, Schaaf designed an elaborate walled courtyard with a water feature and amethyst geode sensor lights, because the client was seeking "a private, intimate space in a very suburban cul-de-sac," he said.
