About the Artist - 2025 Update
G.W. Schaffer attended the Fine Arts Center in high school, where he had a focus in print making and painting. He is a graduate of the College of Charleston, where he received his BA in Fine Art, and also holds a Master of Fine Arts in Jewelry/Metal Arts from the Academy of Art University—considered the equivalent of a PhD in the art field. He is currently pursuing a second MFA in Sculpture.
He is the creator of Wooden Celt Creations, a business that has been in existence for the past 25 years. GW Schaffer is also a Celtic Christian contemplative and a member of the Northumbria Community in Scotland.
My Art
There’s an overused saying about art: “Good art is a reflection of culture.” While that may be true in certain circumstances, I don’t think it’s a good general definition. Art doesn’t always reflect culture. I prefer to say that art reflects the skills learned, combined with the knowledge, interests, and experiences gained throughout life—especially those subjects that inform and inspire the artist’s work.
My interests and experiences, like those of all artists, are unique and combine in ways that are entirely my own. That uniqueness is what makes each of us one of a kind. Fine art should be the same, regardless of its medium. It’s from this perspective that my dislike of mass-produced art emerges. Mass production lacks the quality of uniqueness that defines art as art—something rare and wondrous that stands apart from the cloned, commercially driven pieces that flood society. I’m not saying that mass-produced art can’t be pleasing to look at or technically impressive. It can be. But from my perspective in which I take from the ethos of the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it misses the mark.
The Arts and Crafts movement was really a fusion of four movements that overlapped and influenced one another (like the leaves of a shamrock) while taking inspiration from the Middle Ages and ancient craftsmen and artists of those bygone ages: the four movements are International Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, the Pre-Raphaelite, and the Celtic Revival. These movements—and the philosophies behind them—are my main traditional artistic influences. Aesthetically, Art Nouveau and the Celtic Revival are my primary inspirations, while the philosophy of the Arts and Crafts movement and the aesthetic of the ancient craftsmen/artist drive my reasons for making art. Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list of my motivations.
The primary art form in my work, regardless of subject matter, is Celtic iconography and artwork. I remember seeing the Book of Kells and thinking, “I want to do that kind of work.” My love for this expression of art deepened when I watched the old BBC series The Celts. At the same time, I was introduced to Celtic Christianity in the late ’90s. Imagine my joy to experience my faith in Christ, my artistic expression, and my heritage all coming into a cohesive whole merging or interacting into one vision full of possibility and structured beauty and freedom. Over the past decade, my art has revolved around my faith and my heritage as a Celt—drawing from Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Germany, and, of course, England. All of these are either Celtic nations or have historical ties to the ancient Celts.
Emerging Interests
As of 2025, two other interests are beginning to emerge in my art. These come from geek cultures that have long been part of my life but are now entering my creative work: the fantasy RPG world and the Disney adult community. My art has naturally evolved to include these interests while still being rooted in my faith in Christ. I’ve spent considerable time studying all aspects of these subjects—from art and mythology to culture, symbolism, and history. With these influences in mind, I bring my own unique artistic style to the mix.
While my faith and Celtic / biblical Christianity remain my central focus generally, that doesn’t mean I cannot visit other subjects in my artistic work. Disney or D&D (fantasy) are the two IP’s will come into the possible orbit of my art now and then—though so far, mostly in concept drawings. I’m seriously considering creating works that are outright Disney-inspired or D&D-inspired. Both draw heavily from mythology and symbolism, which are strong interests of mine.
Artistic Philosophy
To boil my work down to its base components: I use Celtic symbolism regardless of the subject matter I’m exploring, with an emphasis on hand-worked sculptural pieces.
As a rule, I create one-of-a-kind pieces. Production work has never interested me. I believe art should be like people—unique. I make sculptural icons and roundels inspired by my love for the Triune God and my three main passions: Celtic Christianity, Disney, and fantasy RPGs.
Why Celtic Christianity?
Simply put, after years of exploring various denominations, I’ve found that the ancient Celtic Church offers the truest expression of biblical Christianity. It’s only natural that something so deeply rooted in me would form the foundation of my work. This is reinforced by my heritage—I’m essentially a Celtic mutt—and my vocation as a Celtic Christian contemplative serves to deepen that connection.
Why Disney and TTRPG?
Both are rooted in my childhood and were instrumental in helping me survive it.
My love for TTRPGs grew from a general love of fantasy, which began on a specific day in the fall of 1971. I was seven years old, and my mother took me to a pizza joint that had an old film projector showing reel-to-reel movies while you ate. That day, they played Jason and the Argonauts and one of the Sinbad films—both by legendary special effects artist Ray Harryhausen. I was completely enthralled. From that day on, I was obsessed with all things fantasy. In the late ’70s, I was introduced to Dungeons & Dragons, which felt like the culmination of everything I cared about: art, creativity, imagination, and fantasy.
Disney, on the other hand, entered my life in ’71 when my grandparents took me to the newly opened Disney World in Florida. If Harryhausen’s films sparked my interest, Disney cemented it—like a nuclear fallout shelter for my imagination. I found creativity, art, and fantasy in abundance, and a strong sense of safety and security within the immersive Disney bubble. That was significant for me, as my childhood was plagued by consistent abuse from my parents.
As I grew older, my interests fluctuated like most people’s do, but I never lost my love for fantasy, art, and Christianity. I’ll admit, these subjects don’t always mix well, and I’ve had my share of trouble navigating that tension with both Christians and non-Christians. But now, at 59, I’ve returned more solidly to my faith in Christ and the stalwarts of my youth—art and fantasy. The joy I found in visual arts, Disney parks, and TTRPGs made life worth living during difficult times. Today, those passions have matured into expressions that are more profound and have reshaped my perspective in meaningful ways.