SOLD REMNANT EDITION 4, 001

Elm, 5in. x 7in. Sho Sugi Ban, Walnut oil.
The grain structure of elm is remarkable. In its natural form, the wood is smooth, but with heat and friction, the layers shine. It's never easy to burn a piece that I've worked on over many months, but I knew the fire would reveal the unbelievable character of this material. The process of charring the wood (sho sugi ban) reveals its life story. The differences in precipitation over the years recorded in growth rings become something you can see and feel. This piece, like most of my work, was salvaged from a tree felled near my home.