As a young person I was compelled to build, draw and carve. I was captivated by the activities involved in manipulating tangible materials and three dimensions. Although I didn't know woodcarving would become my passion, I had no reservations or misgivings that I would become an artist.

I started art school at Southeastern Massachusetts University in Fine Arts majoring in Sculpture. While studying, I participated in exhibitions at Swain School of Design, Georgia Marble Festival and received the prestigious Elizabeth Greenshields Grant. I went on to pursue a Masters degree at Boston University, narrowing my area of interest to focus on traditional European figurative study. Through intensive observation of the natural world, I developed my sense of balance, proportion and composition. Upon completing my Masters Thesis Exhibit in 1988, I received the Kahn Career Entry Award, given to assist promising young artists beginning their careers.

I used the grant to set up a studio on Cape Cod, and also work and learn from an established carver there, trained in the Yankee Shipbuilder Tradition. I learned more wood working procedures such as milling, joinery, and router template techniques, adding marketable skills to my repertoire. I also continued to exhibit work in shows at the Cape Cod Art Association, The Museum of Natural History and the North River Art Association.

In 1990 I was offered the opportunity to work on the restoration of Faneuil Hall and the Old State House in Boston Massachusetts. I was charged with conserving, restoring and reproducing the historic decorative wood elements on both buildings. After completion of this historic restoration, I began getting commissions and requests for carving proposals from the architects and contractors I collaborated with on this project. In response to overwhelming demand for such work, I established Balquist Carving Studio in 1992.

I have been creating wood carvings from original and traditional designs, in relief and three dimensional formats for fifteen years. In that time I've grown my skill set and been inspired by further education at Boston Architectural College, North Bennett Street School, and Massachusetts College of Art. I've also expanded my exhibit record to include showings at The Harbor Gallery at University of Massachusetts, "Fragments and Elements" at the South Shore Art Center, Bancroft Gallery, Cohasset Ma. and "Architectural Ornamentation" at the Boston Architectural College, McCormick Gallery, Boston Ma.

For me there is no more beautiful medium than wood. My goal is to combine artistic vision and technical ability to bring out the beauty and grace in the wood and the images I'm creating. There is a meditative quality to the subtractive process which challenges me to execute my designs as accurately as I can. My job and my passion is to blend Fine Art, craft and skillful dexterity to render woodcarvings of lasting elegance and quality.