The First Clvr Vuz Showcasing!

Sometimes when I travel down Memory Lane it is by way of precious old pictures. Remember the old instant Kodak Printomatic cameras? They provided an instant picture as soon as the shutter button was pressed. I still have a bunch of these old prints, and I really have to focus my ageing eyes on them to see what’s being photographed. But when I do see those moments come rushing back. Yes, a picture really does tell a thousand words! 

I look at the moments that Iris captures and I feel as I feel when I look at my own photographs. She doesn’t just point and snap, she captures the essence of the subject. Art!  Real art! I am certain you will agree as you savour this spectacular photograph. Her art is well crafted. She employs such delicate movement of the camera. This is not a technical setting; this is arranged by the photographer which gives a mysterious look to the photo.  The location is Redwood Park in Surrey Park, BC and the name of the photo is Journey. Can you imagine walking through that amazing tunnel?

Processed food and processed wood are not that different from one another. Think about that. Here on Vancouver Island, there is a very real ecological process whereby some trees simply wear out, fall down, or are left on the forest floor by the gamut of reforestation. These new artist friends are rebelling against waste and processing by making all efforts to salvage this wood before it rots away. Interestingly, it is this wood that is best for furniture and other household items that require sturdiness. How beautiful is it to think that this could be the means of a tidy livelihood for the old-time miller, the carpenter, or the creative mind? 

Many of you have no doubt heard about the famous Robert Bateman – an internationally renowned painter. He began a One Tree project whereby one fallen tree would be used by several artists to create art. Back in 2015, Joe Young was one of 42 artists chosen to participate in a project involving a fallen Big Leaf Maple tree. From his portion, Joe designed and carved a guitar. A luthier by trade, this was a natural choice for him. The picture of Joe and his guitar was taken during the Big Leaf Maple exhibition in the Robert Bateman Museum in Victoria. I suspect we will journey with Joe as he creates a guitar for this blog. Imagine a layer of Sitka Spruce guitar top inlaid with a highly figured Yellow Cedar burl, and a neck made from highly figured Tiger Maple! Some guitar lover will surely want to see this one unfold. 

My mind wanders out into that forest, the home of many interesting, beautiful tree species. It is as though spending time within such a natural setting settles my mind and gives me peace within. I am drawn to this feeling of peace. And as I think of those tangled roots lying with the forest beds, I wonder if there is a deep inspirational message whispering to each and every one of us. There are times I can hear it, but there are also times when I find myself getting sucked back into the vortex of chaos that I have worked so hard to climb out from. And then another creation from the forest appears. 

Let’s consider the Lion burl once again.  This masterpiece is from a Big Leaf Maple tree, the largest of all Maple trees. The Granddaddy. This Maple is restricted to the Southwestern part of British Columbia. The bark is grey and brown, rich in calcium and moisture; moss loves to attach itself to the limbs.

In the forest as the sun peers in, an attractive gigantic silhouette dances in the breeze, a mysterious giant of the forest – the Big Leaf Maple.  

This tree lay on the forest floor for years.  This is why it has so many colours, spalting, and textures. Some of that was mold, but given the process required to finish it - stages of planning, sanding and more - everything is sealed into the piece. As the piece came to life, the Lion appeared - a natural ancient Lion discovered within. The lion sleeps tonight perhaps? It measures 38 inches x 16 inches by 3 inches and weighs about 8 pounds. The price is set at $718 CAD.  You’ll find a link to our Etsy shop where this piece can be found below.

As the life of this blog begins to morph, a new blog post will appear every Sunday.  Upcoming features will include a "Dainty as F**k" patio table made from Western Red Cedar, a dab of Yew, and a skirt wrapped with Yellow Cedar. Charming live edge stools will adorn her. A baby quilt will be featured also. And how about a spectacular Yew live edge wallboard? These will all appear on our Etsy Shop in the coming days. 

Don’t forget to come back Sunday for another post! And while you're waiting, visit the Etsy shop. 

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/ClvrVuz?ref=seller-platform-mcnav