Our Expanding Local Artist Program

As you know, Hardwood Artisans loves our local artists and showing them off.  We have a collection of new local artwork in our showrooms and we’d love for all the fans of handmade art to visit our showrooms and check them out:

  • Barbara Gatterdam – makes beautiful pottery out of her home in Great Falls, VA
  • Fred Eberhart – for a limited time only, a local photographer we acquired through Broadway Gallery in Alexandria, VA
  • Amy Jackson – a brand new local potter with her own sense of style in Fair Oaks, VA
  • Lawrence Oliver – makes handmade wooden sculptures that leave you in awe in Missouri

From top counter-clockwise; Fred Eberhart: Old Rag, Clearing Storm; Barbara Gatterdam: Large Bowl; Lawrence Oliver: Vase in ebonized cherry; Amy Jackson: Hibiscus

Throughout this week we will be posting blogs highlighting about different local artists that we are displaying in our showroom.

Tuesday:  Barbara Gatterdam & Fred Eberhart

Wednesday: Amy Jackson & Lawrence Oliver

We’re excited to hear your opinions on their work!

Accessories Are All The Rage

One of the things we’re most proud of here at Hardwood Artisans is our talented craftsmen. They all feature an amazing capability for creativity, which is first and foremost shown in our line of products, but also in the magnificent accessories that we carry. Many accessories can be dwarfed when they’re near gorgeous pieces like our Waterfall Grand Mesa. However, our jewelry boxes and Suzy cubes hold their own, even when placed next to the most attractive furniture. These accessories are magnificent, not only with the beauty they exude but with the creativity that was put into them in the first place. They are the perfect gift for birthdays and the Holidays, and say something only a hand-crafted item could voice. So, instead of highlighting our wonderful selection of furniture, let’s shine the spotlight on these small, but gorgeous, accessories.

Various Accessories

One of our most treasured and recognized accessories are our Hillgren Jewelry boxes. Crafted by John Hillgren, one of our owners, in the early days of Hardwood Artisans, these stunning little gems are crafted of mainly scrap wood. Don’t let that fool you, lined with your choice of red, blue, or green velvet, these pieces might outshine the jewelry you place in them. Hillgren created the jewelry box after becoming frustrated with the amount of scrap wood going to waste. Nowadays, most, if not all of our scrap wood is used in the manufacturing of our accessories.

Not only is the wood cut in curved lines and traditional corners, but it features a mirror on the inside of the lid. One of our craftsmen even went as far as to have the top burned with romanticisms to give to his girlfriend. You can’t go wrong in giving this as a present, to someone else or to yourself.

That isn’t the only jewelry box we carry, however. Hardwood Artisans features two other boxes; Pepe’s Jewelry box and our Jewelry caddies. The Jewelry caddies showcase two or three drawers, each of which is velvet lined. They fit in perfect on top of any dresser or chest and make organization easy with the optimization of space.

Pepe’s box is a little smaller, but equally entertaining to look at. This is just one more piece that’s fashioned out of scrap wood. The inside is lined with velvet like Hillgren’s jewelry box, but instead of having an indent in the top, it lays flatter and doesn’t have any legs. Either way, I think you have a hard choice ahead of you if you plan to pick between these three!

If you’re looking for something small and practical to gift wrap, maybe instead you should consider our Suzy Cubes. These pieces, while not only being practical, are fun little cubes to give out. You can use them as chairs, stack them as bookcases, and place them as room dividers, anything your imagination can cook up. And if that isn’t wild enough for you, maybe you should consider snagging a couple of our striped Suzy cubes. If you don’t get them, I definitely will!

If you’ve been into any of our showrooms, there’s no doubt in my mind that you’ve seen our Plant Stands. Ranging from square to round, tall to short, these sustainable products were crafted with you in mind. You can use them as an end table or something to place your cactus on. The sharp curves of the legs will undoubtedly attract the eyes of your guests.

One of the cutest items on our in-stock list are Greg’s Stools. These cute little stools are perfect for any little ones you have running around. You can use them for seating or a step stool to reach the sink, but either way there’s no way anyone can pass by these little stools without admiring the handiwork.

If you’re looking for a more practical gift, maybe you should think about our Fold Up tables. With the Holidays just around the corner, these tables will come in handy when you need a little extra dining room. With a swift spin of the legs, this table can be pushed up against the wall to make room for any dancing and games you have in mind.

Last but not least, let’s consider our Cheval mirror. This tall standing mirror can rotate back and forth, adjusting to the height of whoever wants to use it. It’s a very attractive accent to any bedroom, modern or traditional. These pieces are always in-stock, so they’re a quick go to if you’re running out of time.

So, maybe you’re running a little late on your Holiday shopping or maybe you’ve never even thought of Hardwood Artisan’s as the perfect place to go for accessories. Either way, if you’re interested in any of these pieces, they’re available at all of our showrooms. Not only that, but there are several other accessories you can consider that aren’t featured on this list. This way you can enjoy the snow, festivities, and gorgeous accessories of the Holidays!

New Artist: Woodturner Patrick O’Brien

At Hardwood Artisans we love local artists.  We have found a very talented woodturner, Patrick O’Brien.  His carefully crafted work of bowls, platters and wine stoppers are currently being shown in our Fairfax showroom.  Including this piece:  

Russian Olive Tall Bowl

Russian Olive Tall Bowl

Patrick is kind enough to be doing a demonstration at our event on June 26th, our 4th Annual Lemonade Social.  He will be doing his demonstration at 11am and 1pm and will have a small lathe with him to show and teach you what he does.  Come on it and see what he can do!  You will also get a chance to see this beautiful piece of his:  

Fluted Sycamore Bowl

This 14" by 5" bowl had 36 flutes hand carved with a die grinder with carbide drums and hand finished

Cherry Fluted Bottom

Cherry Fluted Bottom

 

Patrick fell in love with woodturning one summer when he saw the work of Alan Hollar in the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville,North Carolina. He has since studied with Willard Baxter and Bobbie Clemons at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina, many others and even the very Alan Hollar whose work inspired himto take up the art of woodturning in the first place.   

In 2003, he began a business called OhBeWood and started selling his work.  In September 2008, he moved to the Lorton Workhouse Art Center in Lorton, Virginia, a new artists’ community with more than 60 studios and several galleries where their works are sold.  A small selection is also available at the new Del Ray gallery, A Show of Hands, at 2301 Mt. Vernon Avenue.  You can view his work in our Fairfax showroom as well as on his website: ohbewood.com.  He welcomes your comments and observations about the pieces featured.

Exotic wood stainless steel wine bottle stoppers with nitrile rings

Exotic wood stainless steel wine bottle stoppers with nitrile rings

 

Three of his turnings were selected for inclusion in the 2005 and 2008Washington Wood shows.  He has had pieces juried into the March, April, May, July, August, and October 2004 and the March, April, May, and July 2005 Art League of Alexandria shows at the Torpedo Factory.  He is a member of the Washington Woodworkers Guild, Del Ray Artisans, and the Art League of Alexandria.  We hope you can join us to see his demonstration on May 15th in our Fairfax showroom at 2pm. 

Beaded Box Elder 12.5" x 5"

Beaded Box Elder 12.5" x 5"

 

Patrick’s Artists Statement:

What I love about woodturning is the way the wood reveals itself as I work. Michelangelo is reputed to have said in answer to the question about how he created his famous statue of David from a block of marble, “I just cut away everything that wasn’t David, and there he was.” I imagine it’s debatable whether or not Michelangelo actually said that, and I am certainly not comparing myself to him, but I feel similarly about working with wood. As I ‘turn” a log or block of wood over and over again in my hands I begin to feel what it might become. Then, as I actually begin to turn the wood on my lathe and the grain, the spalting, and the “flaws” of the wood are revealed, I feel as if the soul of the wood is coming out. In all of my work, I try not to get in the way of the spirit of the wood. 

Stunning Art – Created by Fire in a Trash Can

Yes, you can light your trash can on fire.  That is if you are creating a piece of Raku pottery. 

What a fun job!  We love local artists and have three new artists displaying their work in our Fairfax showroom.  One is a Raku potter and sculptor, Stephanie Firestone.  Here is one of her Raku fired pieces title “Triangle Tower.”

Stephanie Firestone's Triangle Tower

Stephanie Firestone's Triangle Tower

Stephanie grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland and knew art was going to be her destiny from a young age.  She is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.  She uses color and form in a unique way that represents truth and essence.  She has featured her work in many juried shows including Sculpture Now 2006, the annual show of the WSG.  Ocassionally she works with the techniques of Raku pottery and creates stunning pieces.  Including this one:

Stephanie Firestone's Raku Pottery piece, Fossilized

Stephanie Firestone's Raku Pottery piece, Fossilized

Stephanie will be doing a demonstration on how she makes her own unique pieces at our Local Artists Demonstrations Event on May 15th at 12pm in Fairfax.  She will bring in one of her trash cans and other materials used to fire Raku pottery.  What do you know about Raku Pottery?  Here is a little bit of information that might spark you into starting a new hobby.

Raku is a pottery technique that began in Japan during the 16th century.  Its unique colors mostly come from the techiques used during its firing process.  Here are a few images to help you understand a little bit about the process…

You need a heated piece of pottery:

Pottery being pulled out of the kiln

Pottery being pulled out of the kiln

And a trash can filled with straw or other materials to obtain the effect you want to show on your pottery:

Trash can ready for the pottery to go inside of it

Trash can ready for the pottery to go inside of it

You place the heated pottery into the trash can with straw or other materials and it lights on fire:

Once you place the pottery inside of the trashcan it will light on fire!

Once you place the pottery inside of the trashcan it will light on fire!

Piece of pottery inside of the fire which gives it such unique colors

Piece of pottery inside of the fire which gives it such unique colors

You can learn more about the process of Raku pottery from this video or a further explanation about it from Art Ed.  Perhaps you will love it as much as we do!

Arts & Crafts Artisans Stick Together

Because so much of our furniture is known for its Arts & Crafts style, we like to complement that look with other objects of the same genre. Go into any of our showrooms, and you’ll find beautiful lamps by the William Morris Studio, framed decorative tiles by Motawi Tileworks, pottery by Ephraim Faience, and clocks and bookends by Schlabaugh & Sons.

Interestingly enough, all these companies were formed in the ’80s and ’90s, exactly one century after the movement that inspired them. Let’s learn more about each one:

William Morris Studio:

William Morris, an artisan in Benicia, Calif., makes Arts and Crafts lamps that would make the original William Morris, the founder of the Arts & Crafts movement, proud. The contemporary Morris says the two share kindred spirits, but he has no idea whether they share any blood relation. “I’ve never been interested in figuring it out,” he says. Growing up, he adds, the connection “never even crossed my mind … It doesn’t matter. I have my own voice.”

And what a clear, bright voice it is:

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

William Morris lamp

Morris and his wife, Renee, debuted their collection of lamps at the Baltimore Craft Show in 1994. Before that, he had been a precision shop machinist for 17 years, and was looking to do something more artistic. He works with glassmakers and potters such as Ephraim Faience Pottery on lamp vessel designs; once they send him the vessel, he creates the wooden base and caps. Renee crafts the shades from translucent mica and parchment, using leaves from their own backyard.

Because of his background, Morris says, “I have that skilled eye” to create his varied designs. “There’s no formula. I just know — it’s one of my gifts.”

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