Metamorphosis

The design for Metamorphosis was, in and of itself, an evolution. It is not uncommon to have to adapt an idea or design because something doesn't go as expected, but Metamorphosis was somewhat unusual in that this element of the artistic process seemed to define the piece. The challenge when this happens is to first and foremost stay calm, and then somehow adapt whatever the complication is so that it is an improvement on the original idea. In this instance the final product is the third generation and is, I think, more elegant and interesting than it would otherwise have been. It is also much more technically difficult and therefore technically interesting - I am not sure that I could do it again.

The body was carved out of a beautiful piece of maple, while the green portion was made with birch dowel. It sits atop a piece of walnut that is attached to a granite base. To color the dowel I submerged it in a solution of denatured alcohol and green tint, and then placed it in a vacuum chamber to be sure the color fully penetrated the wood. This meant I could carve away as much wood as I wanted without fear of losing the color.

7.75” W x 6.5” D x 17.25” H

Maple, Birch, Walnut, Granite base.

2014.

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