Woodcarving

Journey of Discovery, 2 ft. x 2 ft., fir panel represents a Shaman under the influence of his Octopus spirit helper

Cedar Elder Mask, 16 in. x 18 in., cedar

Killerwhale and Thunderbird Totem 7ft tall by 24 inches wide, fir

Clan of the Octopus 12 in by 12in by 9 in

This panel was inspired by just what the title says, two crows and a snake I saw tossing a garter snake near Poulsbo, WA . The strong muscles at the base of the Crow’s tails are personified as is common in this art form. These small faces represent an old and a young man with bird and human features.

The Main character of this deep relief carving is a Diving Osprey with a Bear clutching a Sun its back. Around the Sun’s Corona Frogs are carved in shallow relief. The face of the sun is a half raptor half man. The creatures that were chosen because of their return in the spring.

This Totem was my first ever large scale commission, at the time I really was not skilled enough to pull off something off this great so this is really more a Duane Pasco than a David Franklin but it was a joy to work on and an amazing education and the beginning of many great projects with Duane Pasco.

This mask called Wigyet, made of Alder with shredded cedar bark hair, represents Raven in Human form

This oversized Mask represents a Tlingit Shaman under the influence of his Octopus Spirit Helper.

This is a detail of a Cedar totem representing the Creatures of the Forest

This small model totem made of cedar represents a human surrounded by Eagles and eagle and sky imagery

Alder Sculpture of a Raven perched on a hardback book.

Fir relief carving representing a diving Osprey with a Sculpin and a personified Hunter on its back

Alder 14 in by 5 in by 4 in

This was a study in creating a carving that was meant to be inclusive of all of a Tlingit Shaman’s arsenal of tools and spiritual allies. Based on research and images of collections of shamanistic equipment ,my goal was to incorporate some of the powerful context a masked shaman must evoke to a believer in need of healing, as he evoked the power of his or her spiritual allies.

The full sized model for Minds Intertwined, carved in Alder with cedar bark hair and carved in a different style

Boeing CEO Alan Mulaly presenting the Prime Minister of Vietnam Phan Van Khai a Totem carved by David Franklin in honor of their purchase of a number of "Dreamliners" in 2005. Photo courtesy of Boeing