Drawing with Wood

Revision

As I progress I find I look back at things I've written and want to change them. I feel a bit like a naughty school girl making changes to previous entries so I think it is better to reflect within the blog rather than becoming my own editor. Infact I seem to have become a little bit preoccupied with thinking about what a blog actually is that I am getting distracted from the main point of it all.

One thing I thought about earlier was the technical skill of perfecting a craft. I felt as if this were secondary to my ideas in some way but now I'm not sure this sounded right. The whole point of adopting Marquetry was to use it as it should be and to produce work properly and with skill, be it in my own way. Finding a way to unite the precision of craft with my own practice and general attitiudes toward making is crucial.

It is the skill with working veneer that gives it such potential not just the material itself. It isn't just having the ideas to try and come up with something original but acknowledging the tradition and history of craft itself which is rooted in great skill.

I can see I have the potential to improve technically, ( and have done already to some extent) this seems natural and essential to the development of my work.

With Pictures in mind, a visit to the tip

I went to the local tip yesterday. There were at least four skips designated for timber, mdf, chipboard and all things wooden. I was reminded of my piles of timber and will be making efforts to produce some work based around this. I have been working away from the conventional use of marquetry in terms of picture making but not purposely avoiding it. Obviously subject is important and balancing this with the material is delicate. I have specifically mentioned drawing in the project title so this remains essential. As I progress, the material itself is undoubtedly the subject; outside of this too it is wood in its different forms which will feature in any representational work.

On my journey home I also took note of the long line of wooden fencing separating various suburban gardens. Each a little different in shade and size and slotted into concrete supports, these flimsy panels reminded me of the veneers I have been handling.