Process: Vermont Spoons

Process: Vermont Spoons

Holzapfel, Michelle, 1951-

MH_354

2010

Carved maple burl in the form of a large bowl and two spoons. Leaf texture and pyrography. Gilding. Watco and Minwax oil finish.
My carvings are often ‘tailored’ to create a form that literally ‘suits’ the unique contours of the burl. But the beauty of wood can be a vexed issue. Do I rely too heavily on its natural charm? Would my forms look just as good in a blander material? Possibly. But as a painter uses color to elicit feelings, I want to engender sensations that spring from wood’s peculiar nature.

The images show the process from the original slice of burl, sketched lines on the cut surface, chain-saw carving, refinement with pneumatic sanders, and final fine carving, pyrography and gilding. Watco and Minwax oil finishes.

Maple burl wood 42 x 36 x 6

Wood sculpture, American

Carving (Decorative arts)

Women and the decorative arts

Women artists--United States

Art woodwork

Spoons in art

See Vermont Spoons at MH_170

Holzapfel, Michelle, 1951-

Still images of process

2010

Copyright © 2019 by Michelle Holzapfel All rights reserved. No part of this archive may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, downloading, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. Please contact Michelle Holzapfel at mholzapfel1979@gmail.com for permission.

See Vermont Spoons at MH_170

still images

See Vermont Spoons at MH_170

Holzapfel, Michelle, 1951-