The passion began with the spirit of a tree
About Us
Kurt and Melody's journey to grow Spirit and Soul of the Tree is much like the organic process they apply to their art. The respect for the trees illuminates their creative path and has guided them to shape their business with that same care and heart. Each of their individual strengths add an important part of creating these truly spectacular works of art and they believe that every creation is like unwrapping a gift from nature - it reveals the spirit and soul of the tree. Acquiring one of their pieces extends the life of these magnificent trees for years to come. For all who fall in love with one of our pieces, thank you for allowing the wood to speak.
Kurt Bellock
In 1997, Kurt and his brother took down 30 walnut trees that had died from a beetle kill. They slabbed the trees into lumber to build furniture and used the remnants as firewood. One day, Kurt couldn't bear to burn any more wood because it was simply too beautiful. Soon after, he visited his uncle in Oregon. Kurt took an impromptu lesson in wood turning and knew this was something he had to continue. When he returned home, he built 3 lathes, and the rest is history.
Kurt uses the tree's natural composition to guide him into shaping each one of his creations. Whether it be a bowl, vessel, or something else, the tree shows him the best possible way to display it's innate beauty. This love and respect for nature and the creative process leads him to personally source every piece of wood, most of which is found locally from notable landmarks such as the Utah State Capitol, University of Utah, and Fort Douglas.
Melody Bellock
After Kurt started making his bowls, Melody began helping him by doing simple flaw repairs. She decided to set their pieces apart with an additional artistic touch and make them even prettier - so she started experimenting with inlaying different colored stones, brass, pewter, and even sawdust, eventually settling on turquoise. Soon after that, she began to notice how some of the cracks resembled trees and decided to carve decorative inlays into the pieces. She loved the adventure of diving deeper into each piece and has been refining her captivating inlays ever since.
Melody finds her inspiration in the natural figure and texture of the wood. Using crushed gemstones and minerals, she transforms the wooden canvases into truly unique pieces of art that are infused with movement, richness, and beauty. Whether it's a simple embellishment of the fissures in the wood or an intricate carving , Melody breathes new life into each of her remarkable creations.
