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Arts & Entertainment

Micha Von Doring: Organic and Earthly Wood Sculptures

After visiting Laguna Beach two decades ago, this artist decided to stay.

Twenty-two years ago, Micha Von Doring visited California with a group of friends.

"We drove down PCH from Los Angeles," Von Doring recalls. "Then we passed by Laguna Beach, and I thought it was amazingly beautiful."

When he returned to his native Germany, he wrapped up his seven-year apprenticeship in woodworking, and came back—this time, for good.

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"I have a theory that I call the 'rocking chair theory,'" he says. "I knew that if I didn't come back here and I stayed in Germany, I'd really regret it. That's why I stayed."

In the beginning, Von Doring continued to practice and hone his skills with wood while enjoying his new home. He also spoke little to no English, and had to learn, fast.

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"I had nothing to run away from in Germany," he says. "I had a perfect family, great economic opportunities and everything, but I wanted to be here. During my first eight years, I just enjoyed being free and the lovely weather. I also learned English and took a few classes. I'd always look up new words so that I could describe my work more vividly. I still do that to this day."

After a few years, Von Doring got more serious with his craft. He'd stop by real estate offices and drop flyers into their mailboxes in an effort to self-market. That kind of tenacity eventually paid off with his first commissioned piece.

"It was a meditation contemplation armoire," he recalls. "When the customer first saw the piece, she instantly broke down into tears—the moment was overwhelmingly powerful. I knew right then and there that working with wood was what I wanted to do, that it would be my medium."

Von Doring believes that wood as a medium is special because it's linked with the earth.

"I'm in love with trees," he says. "A piece of wood is beautiful, very spiritual, and trees have a lot in common with people."

Take one of his tables. It starts by consulting with the client—finding out if they prefer dark or light wood, for example. Their personal taste and even the architecture of the building are all part of the process. Then he tracks down the perfect piece of wood, and the designing begins.

Von Doring uses methods of sanding similarly used to buff luxury sports cars in order to make the surface of the wood perfectly smooth. All the legs are solid and made using old world techniques from his native Germany in order to make the table last for centuries.

"I have to isolate where the beauty is on a piece of wood," he says. "Every slab of wood I use is definitely over 100 years old."

Von Doring describes his work as minimalistic and organic. He keeps his work very simple, yet it's aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Nothing is out of its place and every curve, etching, and carving serves a purpose in each piece. No matter what the client desires for their house, he'll design it from beginning to end.

His keen attention to detail shows in his work. Everything from the rims of a door to the edges of a piece is finely tuned, and he masterfully carves each piece to perfection. The type of wood doesn't matter, as long as it's a piece of wood he'll turn it into a work of art.

As for new and upcoming artists? Von Doring offers a piece of advice:

"Find your point of view and enjoy your connection to your medium," he says. "As an artist, you have to learn how to balance your life and wear multiple hats. Learn how to market and get yourself out there."

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