Car ved in Stone

From his photo realistic oil paintings to his pen and ink pointillism pieces, Dan Feldhauser's work is remarkable. But it's his work in granite that leaves a lasting impression.

After getting a start in the field of hand etching granite monuments 16 years ago, Feldhauser is believed to be one of the few still practicing the craft in the state of Michigan with St. Helen Monument Sales one of the few companies still offering the pieces. According to William Hill, co-owner of St. Helen Monument, many in the industry went to laser etching 10 years ago but his company stayed with hand etching. The computer produced pieces look mass-produced, Hill said.

Feldhauser's intricate detailing and customized designs makes his pieces look anything but mass-produced.

Feldhauser said it was a fluke that he got started in the medium. Then living downstate, Feldhauser was neighbors with the owners of Raubar, a Detroit-area company that sold granite monuments. His neighbors saw his detailed and intricate pointillism pieces and asked him if he would like to try etching in granite. The first time he tried it he "jack hammered" the granite but kept with the medium.

HAND ETCHING Dan Feldhauser etches a feather on a monument for George Frank Cook, also known as "Chief White Bird," last month. Feldhauser's canvas when etching granite is clear black granite that comes from India. His work can be seen in cemeteries throughout the area, including Cook's at the Roscommon Township Cemetery. (Inset, above left) An etching of praying hands Feldhauser designed that is on display in St. Helen Monument Sales' showroom.

"I just fell into it and got better and better," Feldhauser said. "It was just kind of a natural process."

He said while working with Raubar, 80% of his work was for St. Helen Monument Sales. A native of Grayling, Feldhauser bought a farm north of Grayling in 1996 and told Hill of his move north and his availability to etch pieces for St. Helen Monument Sales.

"Boy, that sounds pretty good to me," Hill said of his reaction to the news. "It's wonderful to have him," he added. Since then Feldhauser has been etching monuments for St. Helen Monument Sales, owned by William and Dorothy Hill and Brian and Julie Hill. Started in 1968, St. Helen Monument Sales has been in its same location on Carla Street in St. Helen since 1972. William Hill said it is a 100% family operation with grandchildren Michael Hill and Sonya Adams also working at the business.

 

INTRICATE PIECE (Left) Feldhauser holds one of his pointillisms of a scene taken from Michigan's logging era of train and loggers. Feldhauser got started in granite etching after neighbors who owned a monument company saw his detailed and intricate pointillism pieces and asked him if he would like to try etching in granite. He has been hand etching for St. Helen Monument Sales for over 15 years.

The company sells wholesale and delivers monuments to cemeteries throughout Michigan. They purchase granite throughout the United States, including Georgia, Vermont, Missouri and Wisconsin. The black granite Feldhauser uses as his canvas comes from India, as there are no clear black granite quarries in the United States.

COLORING (Above) Feldhauser prepares to use white Lithochrome to "color" his etching of the feather. (Left) An example of a color etching by Feldhauser shows a grouping of wildflowers. Feldhauser uses Lithochrome to create the colors and said that each stone takes color differently.

The monuments are lettered in Lansing and then brought north where Feldhauser etches them in a studio at St. Helen Monument Sales. Feldhauser, who says he has "always drawn," taught art at Grosse Isle High School for seven years and also taught elementary and middle school, finishing his career at Grayling High School where he taught special education before retiring several years ago.

Feldhauser also paints "realistic paintings" and practices the art of Pointillism, where small dots make up a larger picture.

He is taking oil painting classes at

Kirtland Community College and said taking the classes at KCC under instructor Scott Rice has "really helped me."

 

He said he works from back to front, etching the background first. Feldhauser said he adds details that viewers may not notice from 10 feet away but when they get closer they see the fine detail.

Feldhauser said one of his most intricate works was a 48-inch piece of granite - which weighs roughly 187 pounds per cubic feet - that he designed and etched a scene from the Invasion of Iwo Jima on. "That was a full plate," the former history teacher said.

When he first started etching monuments, Feldhauser said he would get emotionally involved in his work. After a while, he said, he realized it was a case of "somebody's got to do it."

"We take pride in our work," Feldhauser said. "The biggest tribute is seeing it in the cemetery."