Graven Reproductions
Beautiful hand-made miniature reproductions
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Graven Reproductions
Dave Graven
Artist in Residence
Dave Graven, Owner and Craftsman
Graven Reproductions, Maumee, Ohio
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Hi Dave! Please share something about your professional
and artistic backgrounds, so that our clients may get to know
more about you:
My interest in designing and creating things with my hands started at a young age. I would watch my brother creating drawings for a drafting class he was taking in high school, and it fascinated me. I was hooked. Another time, while taking a High School drafting class, I was asked by my instructor to enter a Northwest Ohio mechanical drawing contest. I ended up winning the entire thing!
I have always been one to “work with my hands.” I love it, and in fact I built the home we raised our children in. I also have always helped friends and relatives when they’ve needed assistance with building or remodeling around their homes.
What do you do? What kind of artwork do you create and what kinds materials do you use?
My business is named Graven Reproductions, and I make models of structures in scaled down sizes. I’ve recreated covered bridges, custom built homes and train depots, to name a few. I utilize natural materials including very soft woods like Bass and Balsa, and natural stone, whenever possible.
What inspired you to begin creating your artwork?
I was asked by my Grandson how homes are built, and I decided that I’d do better than explaining it to him and I’d
show him. That desire to pass my knowledge along led me to create a partial model of the framing of a home to help him visualize the structure. It was my first piece. Fortunately, I’ve been blessed with an ability to see a structure, take photographs of it and recreate it in wood. And because of my Grandson’s curiosity my hobby was born!
How long have you been creating your artwork?
I started Graven Reproductions in 2022
What are your greatest challenges with the artwork you create?
My greatest challenge is making the reproduction as close to the original structure as possible.
What about your artwork brings you the greatest satisfaction?
When I’m done and I look at the piece with the knowledge that I did that by hand, I feel a great sense of
satisfaction.
Please share 2 things about yourself that would be great conversation starters if you were speaking to someone
you’d never met before.
I have ridden motorcycles for 50 years. I’ve travelled the entire North American Continent by Motorcycle, met
countless amazing people, and camped while traveling in many national parks.
As a young man I took classes in Architectural Design and Mechanical Drawing.
Let’s Work Together
Creative Artists: Get in touch so we can start working together.