|
| |
| |
ARTIST
STATEMENT |
| |
Commissioning…
The natural beauty of wood inspires my designs. The wood I
use for each piece is very important. I often use American Black Walnut for
its deep rich tone and high figure. I carefully select each piece to display
the wood grain in a pleasing way. I feel it is important to use the wood in
a way to honor the life of the tree.
The process of commissioning a piece of furniture involves several
decisions. One must choose the type of wood that will be used. There are
many species to choose from, each with its own unique color and figure. When
I search for wood, I often look for certain “pleasing defects.” These
natural defects bring visual interest to the piece. In addition, the
furniture must
be sized accordingly to fit with your surroundings. You may choose from the
standard measurements that I use, or have the piece customized to work with
your environment.
The design and creation of a piece of furniture is a rewarding process.
Having a truly unique piece, which does not adhere to current style trends,
will add character to your home. Having hand made objects in your home
allows one to have an escape from the cold mechanization of modern society.
Ones home should create a sense of tranquility. I believe my designs add to
this sense of tranquility.
I strive to achieve a fine balance between esthetics and functionality. My
furniture is meant, not only to be admired, but used. Traditional joinery
and modern woodworking techniques are employed to assure both beauty and
quality construction. Often one may feel the subtle characteristics left by
the handplane, chisel, or spokeshave, all the mark of the craftsman. These
qualities culminate to create elegant furnishings, which will last for many
generations.
Joinery…
I can not overstate the importance of time honored
construction methods. The joinery I use was that used by our forefathers.
One can note that antiques are valued by our society where as a couch from
the 70’s is often out on the curb. Long ago our ancestors used the mortise
and tenon joint to hold together much of their furniture. This furniture has
lasted a century or more. It would be hard to argue the value of that. Too
often factory made furniture is engineered to last no longer than ten years.
Finish…
My finishing method is time consuming but worth the wait. I
use a blend of oil and varnish on my furniture. This is built up over
several days. As a final coat I use a natural mix of oil and beeswax. This
finish dries in the wood, not only on top. It is easily repaired and ages
gracefully. It is a thinner finish than the various sprayed on plastic
finishes that are commonly used today. As a result, coasters are in order
for drinks, and spills should be cleaned up promptly. In my opinion, the
look and feel of an oil finish are unparalleled. |
|
