I recently completed this pair of coffee tables for a patient customer. They were made from a local fruit cherry tree. The client wanted two tables that could be used together or independently. Both tables were physically identical, with minor character differences. The design was the client's, but I was allowed creative license. One of … Continue reading Cherry Coffee Tables
Power carving is unlike working with hand tools because you can remove wood without regard for grain direction or knots. To me, this is liberating as I can focus on form. As I work, I constantly ask myself, "Do I want to save this section or obliterate it? My sculpting approach is to simply remove … Continue reading Include or Exclude?
Some of my recent designs have involved complex angled joinery, such as the base of this table inspired by a sketch by Vic Hubbard. I was having a hard time visualizing in my head how the joinery would work, so I built a prototype to help me understand. Since it's only a prototype to explore the mechanics … Continue reading The Value of Prototyping
Many woodworkers are technically skilled and able to create an item exactly as detailed in a plan. Some lack the willingness to take risks and push the boundaries. Technical skills are important, but they only get you so far. Creativity and problem solving are key skills for anyone making original work. For me, design is … Continue reading Roll With It
Last weekend, I attended a private gathering of 40 of Port Moody's top artists. To help everyone get to know each other, we were given an activity. We were each given a list with everyone's name and we were to say "hi" to everyone else and share two words that represent an inspiration to us. … Continue reading Inspiration, in a Word
Fellow woodworker and blogger Kenny Comeaux recently interviewed me about design and inspiration. Read the whole interview on his blog, The Wood Ninja. This is the sixth slide from my PechaKucha presentation. Inspiration and Initial Experimentation Prototype #1 Prototype #2 Prototype #3
David Savage is a name that you might know. He is a UK woodworker with over 30 years of experience and a very distinctive style of furniture. David teaches woodworking and contemporary furniture design at Rowden Farm Atelier and recently released his book, Furniture with Soul, a book which looks at the journeys and work of 20 accomplished, … Continue reading An Inspiring Story from David Savage
Inspiration fuels me. When I am inspired, I have seemingly limitless energy. When I'm not inspired, I employ a few strategies to try to rekindle that fire. One of them is experimentation which is fun and a good way to practice woodworking. I usually start with a piece of wood about 18" long and square … Continue reading Connect the Dots
I have been planning and researching for my PechaKucha Night presentation at Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre next month and while looking for a particular quote, I came across this one which you can now find, among many others, on my page titled Quotables. "Basically the woodworker is not driven by commerce, but by a need to create … Continue reading New Quote Added to “Quotables”
Today, I completed Deconstructed, making it the first piece of 2013. Although there are a couple of things that didn't go the way I wanted, I am very happy with the result. I find myself loving it more the longer I am around it. (The same can be said with most of my woodwork.) The shelf … Continue reading Deconstructed – Finished Shots and Reflective Thoughts
