APPRECIATION is what I feel to be able to explore design like this. Not only did I get to work with an incredible artist Kentia Naud @terrefermepottery, who hand made the exquisite tiles featured in this piece, but I met a customer who challenged me to make something with those tiles as a center piece, and allowed me full range of artistic expression with the utmost support and confidence. Thank you both.
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A few design ideas really came together for me on this piece and I'd love to share: 1) Carving: I want to integrate more carving into what I do. Its permanence and sophistication add so much to any piece. 2) Dimensionality: so often wood is flat, and we usually make it flat on purpose. Here, this whole idea started with a sculpted canyon running through the middle of the serving board where the food could go, some much-needed dimensionality. 3) Organic shape. So often my Pottery companions allow organic shape and primitiveness to flow through their pieces with extraordinary beauty. As woodworkers we tend to avoid anything that's not flat/straight/precise, but in this case the three hammered brass stars are totally organic to lovely effect juxtaposed over the precise carvings. Finally, mixed media, I find it so much more interesting than wood alone.