WoodArt

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

        My sense of design runs to the sinuous flow of curving lines, achieved by carving with chisels and grinding tools.  It takes many drawings at small scale and finally at full scale to work out curves that I’m satisfied with in three-dimension.  I often glue up several layers of wood to get the bulk needed to produce a three-dimensional design or to chase a curve around a corner.  I use hardwoods for smaller pieces but for some large “architectural” pieces I use pine.  It is then painted to match the color scheme of the room where it is installed

ELEGANT SMOKING PIPES:

        My pipes are made of briar - a wood from the root burl of a Mediterranean shrub that is cut into 2” x 3” x 4” blocks with the rubbly exterior “shell” of the burl exposed on some blocks.  I select those so I can use that intricate natural texture as a foil to the carved surfaces of a pipe.  I either create a sculpture around a pipe, or put a pipe “inside” of a sculpture - take your pick.  I want any sculptured edges to be just this side of sharp enough to cut your finger, and the smooth surfaces to be silky - that takes several days of final hand sanding with paper up to 600 grit.  All pipes are made to be smoked, can rest upright in one or two positions, and have shapes intended for the user’s hand to caress contemplatively.  Each pipe comes in its own green wool, silk-lined pouch.

STYLISH WALKING CANES WITH A FLAIR

        My canes are of laminated exotic hard woods with handles carefully designed to provide a secure, confident grip.  The shafts are sculpted, as an antidote to the usual anonymous wooden rod that serves only to connect the handle to the floor.  I hope all users will feel their canes provide a distinguished, strikingly handsome and very special personal accoutrement as my first cane did for my favorite aunt during her last two decades of life, into her 105th year.  She was some proud of her cane, her only luxury item, and it always went out with her.  Her friends openly envied it, which made her feel special - couldn’t have pleased me more.  I hope my canes do that for all my customers.  In the future some of my canes may have an occasional inclusion - perhaps a dot of turquoise or coral or another accent.

SCULPTURAL MIRROR FRAMES

        These wood mirrors either frame wonderful you when you look into them, or/also are fancy or funny objects that speak for themselves.  I’ve done the fancy ones and will continue that, but am increasingly drawn towards ones that are whimsical.  It’s of walnut and will be followed by others (of various designs and sizes) that will serve not only as facial reflectors but primarily as decorative elements wherever they live.  I’m just starting to explore this design area and expect to come up with things that will be pretty and also make people smile.  My fantasy mirrors include "Snow White’s mirror," and perhaps soon I'll do one of those with seven tiny satellite mirrors for each of those Dwarfs.  All mirrors include frame, mirror and hanging wire.

OTHER DECORATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL ITEMS 

           I create these “incidental” but important pieces to meet a variety of household needs from toilet paper holders and free-standing towel/quilt racks, to pool cue holders, hardwood cabinet knobs and many other small- to medium-size pieces.  I especially enjoy making presentation mallets.  Made of various colorful, laminated wood, they can be used to bring order to a meeting or as a conversation piece.  In the past I created a 10th anniversary celebration series of mallets that were presented to fellow directors of an environmental legal organization I helped to start.  I’ve been told these mallets often draw compliments in the recipients’ offices.

FURNITURE and ARCHITECTURAL WOODWORK 

         I create a variety of fine furniture from side and dining tables to coffee tables and more.  In addition I create a range of architectural woodwork including elegant exterior doors and their frames, surrounds for inset counters, bed headboards and numerous other custom wood fittings.  These are usually made from laminated and carved wood, following my personal inclination towards curved designs. 

CARE

         Pipes need no care but do take on additional luster from being stroked with the user’s natural facial oil, if the owner has oily skin.  Canes, mirrors and furniture hardwood should be occasionally wiped with a dust cloth and waxed with hard furniture wax if desired.  Painted surfaces need only light dusting.