walnut

Silver Inlay Box

The black walnut box with silver inlay and sycamore as secondary wood is now complete and as always was made entirely with hand tools only.

This project draws inspiration from Japanese art and architecture and the first concept drawing echoed the architectural feel of a torii (鳥居) gate lintel. This was further refined as the small project developed.

The exposed dovetail joinery follows the curves of the ends of the box for an organic feel.

Silver Inlay Box-1

Ornamentation in sterling silver is a simple, nature-inspired illustration in the lid, with the elements in the front of the box tying the composition visually and providing grounding to the shapes of the grasses in the lid. Continue reading →

VIKING CHEST FOR A CHILD: CARVING THE LID (PART 2)

I’m back to the carving on the lid of the Viking chest. After wasting away most of the ‘negative space’ material from the background, time to do some further shaping and to put some detail in.

 

img_0570

Suckers. This is small scale repetitive work and I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do here, really, so I tried a couple of approaches on a section. I forgot I wanted some suckers on a section where they face directly up and I hadn’t left enough wood for them. Worked around that ok, not ideal. At least by the time I got to do further arms I worked out a sequence to simplify this part of the work.

 

img_0573

The main thing I try and accomplish is something with good balance and proportions that doesn’t look mechanical.

Continue reading →

Viking chest for a child: carving the lid (Part 1)

I started carving the lid for a wee chest I have made. I made the chest in oak but, although I punish myself regularly, the carving will get done in black walnut, a very agreeable species to carve. I had a few unusually clear boards to chose from which helped as well.

img_0248

First, the underside gets a lightly scalloped and textured surface with the edges left intact.

 

img_0245

On the top, spray adhesive gets a photocopy of the carving design stuck onto the surface so that I can carve through the paper. You can’t see the grain this way but it’s quicker than drawing it all again. I just letter in the recipient’s name.

Continue reading →