Musings - Elemental materials - Wood

— beauty of wych elm

I found myself enquiring about the energies that material holds, the life force that comes from the sun and is stored within; such as the growth rings in wood containing the energy of the year in the life of that tree, what the summer was like, how much rain fell in that particular year. Inspiring a deep listening to materials. Working with old wood to me feels like finding gold.

The pieces that I make with wood are made using the material as a guide to their design with the idea of creating a simple form that allows the functions of life around it to flow with ease and expansion. Wood has a very understated calming natural energy that emanates from this quiet knowing stored within it; I aim to bring the reverence that the material deserves to all of the pieces. I am inspired by and use European and Japanese traditional joinery techniques.

I like the idea that those who interact with the furniture see the raw quality of the materials. The wood is sustainably sourced within the UK from a variety of sources that I collect and is always finished with natural oil or left raw.

Craig