Author Archives: Matthew Johnson

About Matthew Johnson

I began working with stone in 1991 when I was invited to apprentice with a stone carver working in nearby Florence. During the course of his training, Matthew learned the intricacies of designing, cutting, and carving stone architectural elements, using a combination of both modern and ancient tools and techniques.

After completing my apprenticeship in 1997, I worked with a high tech firm in Austin where I studied and implemented the cutting edge technologies of CAD design. Always with an eye toward returning to the stone industry, I spent the next few years developing CAD tools that would help me blend the aesthetics and nuanced beauty of carved stone with the precision and speed of the information age.

Today, I am the founder of Bartlett Stone Company and serve as our carver and designer. My experience and attention to detail allow architects, designers, builders, and masons to confidently expand the boundaries of their own stone designs and provide their clients with high quality architectural details that routinely surpass expectation.

In 1999, I got my chance to re-enter the stone carving profession when my old master, Bob Ragan, invited me back to oversee and manage the shop in which I had originally trained. I spent the next four years blending my varied skills in order to provide each client with a uniquely sculpted, architectural stone treasure, while still accommodating the realities of building schedules and budgets.

Episode 15 – Scott Halverson

Stone Carvers Guild Podcast

Episode 15 – In this interview with Minnesotan carver Scott Halverson, the business of architectural carving is front and center. Scott and his business partner run a studio in Northeast Minneapolis and travel around the country restoring monuments. Of course, Scott had a long journey that ran through Texas and Europe in order to get there. Matt, Joel and Bethany discuss this with Scott alongside a continuation of the hand tools vs. pneumatic tools controversy.

Check out more of Scott’s carving at his website, www.northernstonecarving.com.

Episode 14 – Cary Shafer

Stone Carvers Guild Podcast

Episode 14 – In which Cary Shafer sits down with Bethany, Joel, and Matt to discuss the path to discovering oneself

Following are some photos he shared with us:

Episode 13 – Sebastian Martorana

Stone Carvers Guild Podcast

Sebastian Martorana carver, illustrator, sculptor, teacher, and social media personality, discusses being an artist in Baltimore, his own formation through apprenticeship with stone carving veterans in DC, the relationship between illustration and carving, working with different kinds of stone including salvaged stone, how to gild lettering, and using Instagram to connect with other artists.

Episode 12 – Stuart Simpson

Stone Carvers Guild Podcast

Episode 10 – In which Stuart Simpson shares about his journey from carving found stones as a child to studying art at University to working with co-host Matthew Johnson at Texas Carved Stone (see Bob Ragan episode) to running his own studio.

Also included – comments on running a stone carving business, a carving for Jeff Bezos, and the reading of a review!

Episode 11 – Stephen Bouska

Stone Carvers Guild Podcast

Episode 11 – Stephen Michael Bouska of Old World Stone Design in which they explore his unique background, in-depth knowledge of stone, and wide range of carving experiences.