Amidst the sparkling diamonds and precious stones that line the jewelry cases at J. Chapa Hernandez Jeweler on Main Street in Bellevue, sits the hand-carved stone sculptures by local artist Andre Pomeroy. Ranging in size from delicate palm size to a three piece structure, the one-of-a-kind sculptures are made of soapstone, argillite, gemstone and rare metals.

The Native American inspired art is a testament to a life-long dedication to art and mastering the skill of sculpting.

Growing up in Bellevue, Pomeroy was drawn to art from an early age and his appreciation for the craft matured with time. With an eye for drawing, he sold his first piece of art in the halls of his high school to a passerby. He dove into wood carving during the time he spent at a boys home in Seattle. To help his mother, who was a single parent at the time, he volunteered to enter the Seattle Children’s Home for a couple of months.

He ended up staying for three years.

During that time, he spent his days in the wood shop, carving small sail boats and shaping his skills of free-form grinding.

Although he had a passion for art, he failed to view it as a career goal until later in life. Instead he pursued a career in fitness training.

Years later, he found himself between jobs and down on luck. As he approached the Fremont Food Bank he said a prayer. Once inside, he spotted a flyer on the bulletin board that requested a wood carver.

“The only wood carving I had done up until this point were sail boats in shop class as a kid,” Pomeroy said. “But I figured what do I have to lose?”

The owner of North West Arts and Crafts on Queen Hill was actually looking for an ivory sculptor. Pomeroy quickly adapted.

“At the time Elephant ivory was legal and he wanted me to carve it,” Pomeroy explained. “To me, it didn’t matter what he handed me. It could have been a bar of gold, I would have done my best either way.”

He went onto carve fossilized whale bone for a shop on Capital Hill. When the ivory industry came to a crashing halt, Pomeroy found himself down and out once again. He continued to work odd jobs while living in his truck in Bellevue with his two dogs. Eventually he was recruited by a previous client to further his sculpting career in Alaska.

He achieved success and opened his own art studio, turning a life-long hobby into a full-time job.

He later purchased a piece of land on the Londonderry Quarry in Alaska.

Argillite, Pomeroy’s choice of stone, is a soft black slate used by the Haida population, an indigenous nation of the Northwest coast known for their artful carvings of argillite, silver and gold.

“The stone I work with is 99.9 percent off my own property,” Pomeroy explained, adding that he prefers to use soapstone, argillite and exotic types of metals when sculpting.

For the past seven years, he has been heavily involved in geological studies and research all while perfecting his craft.

Pomeroy’s sculptures can be found at J. Chapa Hernandez Jeweler on 10246 Main Street in Bellevue.

Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or at 425-453-4602.