Cell #: 607-435-7820

email: patryantravels@gmail.com.

It all began in October of 1995.  I was trying to write the great American novel while working part-time for a landscaping contractor to support myself.  The contractor had a stone retaining wall to build and he asked me to assist with the backfill and the base stones.   I was instantly hooked.  I just loved the process of putting irregular stones together.  It was even more fun than trying to write a novel.  I have been building stone walls ever since and I will probably continue building walls until I drop dead with a stone in my hand.   It really is one of my very favorite things to do on any given day of the week.  If I ever retire from doing stonework for other people, I will just make more stone stuff at home.

Over the years my stonework has expanded into patios and water features and benches and staircases and large stone sculptures. I even sometimes design whole outdoor living spaces that utilize all or some of my various stone creations. But fundamentally, it all begins with the simple stone wall.  That’s what I like to do.  Put stones together.  Participate in the process.  Utilize the force of gravity to create an organically constructed useful and beautiful structure.

Nowadays, my favorite things to make are the free-standing sculptural projects.  I am even willing to travel outside my immediate vicinity to make a cool big stone sculpture.  All I need is a pile of rocks to work with and a place to put them together.  Of course I like to be financially compensated as well.  And work atmosphere is very important.  Ideally, I like to work on sculptures where I can stay somewhere comfortable nearby for the duration of time that I am building the sculpture.  I have this beautiful dream of traveling the country and leaving giant stone sculptures behind at guesthouses and cabins and campgrounds all along the way.  It would be really awesome to do it as a bicycle journey.  Hmm.  Or maybe a train trip;  But it sure would be hard to organize.  Anyway, that’s just a dream. But you get the picture.  I love making the sculptures.  It is very fun.  So if you want one, and you are willing to pay for it, contact me.  

I also love making stone walls. I really do.  I never seem to get tired of it.  Retaining walls or free-standing walls; they both are fun to build.  It’s like meditation or therapy or a good physical work out.  I’ve already done lots of walls in and around Oneonta but I just want to do more and more.  I want to blanket the surroundings with awesome stone walls.  I want to encourage other people to build stone walls too. That’s why I teach stonewall workshops to small groups of people. More and more stone walls.  Together we can transform the region into a Mecca of dry stone walls.  We can give a whole new meaning to the idea of Stoneonta.  I especially like working on walls that are close enough to bike to on a daily basis.  So, if you are within 10 or so miles from Oneonta where I live and you happen to have big pile of rocks that needs organizing into the shape of a wall (or anything else for that matter) give me a call and I will put you on my list.  

The best way to reach me is through a text to my cell phone #.

cell phone: 607-435-7820

Or you could try to send me an e-mail:

e-mail: patryantravels@gmail.com.