Commissioned work has been the foundation and mainstay of my artistry. I devine & create something unique for my clients and their spaces based upon my impressions and interpretations of my exposure and observation of the space in focus and its relationship to its environment. Many spaces call for custom creation because of special functional design considerations, for example, a need to conceal an unsightly view, perhaps to incorporate ventilation, movement, lighting, even sound, etc. Most of my projects begin with the client's overall sense to need to change the life of a specific space with some kind of thematic adornment or treatment.

My work as a professional commissioned Artist involves consulting, identifying and discussing creative concepts, considerations, limitations and alternate possibilities, research, sketching, illustrating, drafting, design development, materials aquisition and fabrication, production, delivery and installation.

My discovery and self-taught techniques of working with copper began in December 1996 through a commission to create a new exterior shop sign piece in Westport, Connecticut for a reknown catering company (shown at right, the "Tray of Plenty" is 4 feet x 2 feet and features an abundance of fruits, vegetables and a giant fish... a Caterer's cornicopoa of delights... ). Following this project, copper became a principle creative endeavor for me once again in 2000 after a commission to render a wide array of architectural pieces (including thematic low-voltage chandelier lighting, artfull ceiling air ventillator and giant light shrouds) for Tastings Restaurant & Wine Bar, an upscale bistro-style restaurant, which was located at the time in Healdsburg, California.

Read the feature article about Ken Griswa in the publication "Copper in The Arts", Issue #20, December 2008, by Michael Cervantes, http://www.copper.org/consumers/arts/2008/december/supplement.html

I was raised in suburban and rural communities throughout the Great Lakes region of the United States (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio). I graduated from Southern Conn. State University, B.S. Geography/Cartography, summa cum laude, while living in Connecticut in 1992. I moved to California in April of 1996 and currently work and reside in the Montaclair District of Oakland, California.

Creative intentions governed by the flow of divination create the activity of rendering in life. It is by attending to this principle of motion* that the objective is attained and the subjective is actualized, all in accordance to the ways of true spiritual flow – ie. "The Cruise"

*Motion should be considered in degrees of displaced action, not concerning necessarily an overall direction. For to presume direction is to presume a greater intention than that of the divine. Afterall, in the end, following pure propensities will have shaped an existence rather than a direction.

My first copper projects were all commissioned works. It was never my intention to work with copper or to even become a sculptor. I didn't keep a studio specific to this new undertaking, nor did I seek one. I had no formal training in smithing nor any experience with working metal in anyway whatsoever.

Copper discovered me. The moment I connected to its calling was, and still is, one of the most profound and joyous moments of my days... pure clarity and happiness. It seemed as if perhaps I had been part of its history before and finally found it again.

My Self Taught Ways...

My self-taught ways in copper artistry has been a magnificent part of my life. It's funny to think it all started from an old book on how to make a small copper tea tray and a propane torch instruction manual... a road of passionate discovery! Completely self-taught, I have been exploring through experimentation to discover new techniques of working with copper.

My work comes into being by various means. Written word on the subject of working with copper, especially as a creative medium is extremely rare, leaving my experiements and exploration of possibilities guided mostly by hunches, conjunctions and intuition... listening to within et al. and engaging, mostly... I have a passion for ultra refined focus through self mandated presence.

Sometimes a vision of an actual form leads to a new techniques and tools. For instance, the first object I ever made out of sheet copper was a mushroom which consisted of a circular cap and cone shaped stem which dictated that I should cut and shape a circle and a rectangle. I cut the circle & rectangle from 16 oz. sheet copper using large tin snips. I dug out a small bowl shape in the dirt and hammered the copper circle into it... which was o.k. but not great... tried a wooden bowl but broke the bowl... ultimately carved out a bowl depression into a small wooden oak tree stump which worked beautifully for forming mushroom caps from circles of sheet copper.