Amidst a haircut last week, I tuned my hairdresser out for a solid 15 minutes while engrossed in this article in C Magazine. Admittedly, the portrait of the handsome hunk R. Nelson Parrish is what immediately caught my fancy. The interview that accompanied the photographs however proved that there's more that meets his soulful eyes and athletic stature. The Alaska-born artist sits in his Santa Barbara studio, surrounded by leftover fragments of wood, fiberglass and bio-resin from his work, discussing the inspiration behind his art and life's tribulations that have brought him to some colorful intersections. Aside from his signature totems (which Rob Lowe and John Legend have purchased a bounty of), he also consults on selected projects, including "Soul Poles", limited edition hand painted bamboo ski poles. The artist says he was inspired by early morning back country skiing, an inspiration that eventually garnered a feature in Vogue, Outdoor Magazine, and the like. Be sure to read the interview above and view his portfolio here.