Mega Blocks is finished!
We finally found time to apply two coats of polyurethane to this massive piece. It includes close to 700 pieces of individually cut, sanded, burned and painted wood.
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It makes a statement while also acting as an acoustic panel to create a warmer clearer sound to any space.
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This one could be in your home by Christmas!
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36" x 74"
Saree, not Saree
This piece has been in the works for a while. The idea began to percolate when I received photos from my brother while he was visiting the Indian cities of Kolkata and Agra. The flower market he visited was an amazing place - a complete sensory overload.
I was struck by the flurry of colour, elegant grace and extraordinary beauty of the group of women, resplendent in their sarees. Swirls of vibrant hues everywhere, like art in motion.
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The Living Wall
Our latest work, a three-part series titled The Living Wall, explores our continued obsession with wood. The depth and beauty of the natural wood is a testament to nature’s artistry with its engaging grain patterns, warm colour variations, unique textures and captivating imperfections.
It is a statement piece to be sure, but there is something extraordinary about bringing a uniquely authentic work of art into your space. This one brings with it, the warmth, peace and tranquility of a walk in the woods. This powerful connection with nature does wonders for the soul.
A Room with a View
Burrard Inlet in Port Moody offers stunning views of the ocean, surrounding mountains, coastal marshes, forests and beach. It's a special place which we have humbly tried to capture with wood and acrylic paint.
Songs from the Woods
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The wood was salvaged from a fallen spruce in the Kawartha Lakes Region. Each piece of wood was worked and sanded to enhance the natural beauty of the grains. The addition of acrylic paint accentuated the concentric circles of the tree's growth cycles. We think of them as sound waves, reminding us of our forest walks. At times we are surrounded by a boisterous symphony of chirps, chortles, hums, squeaks, whistles and rustles. At other times we are immersed in the gentle quiet rhythm of the forest as the trees spin ancient tunes in dulcet harmonies. We are compelled to listen, feel, ponder and connect.
Nature's Resilience
This work is an ode to the beautiful scars found in the cross-section cuts of maple, cherry, ash and spruce.
The growth rings tell stories of resilience and survival through the years. The dark stains in the ambrosia maple tell us that the tree implemented its defence mechanism to prevent further damage or injury. The dark colour is made by phenolic compounds produced in the area of the wound to prevent fungal and bacterial infection. What a profound testament to the power of nature! While working with this piece, we were held spellbound by the beauty and complexity of the natural wood. For this reason, colour was used to a minimum.
Like Circles on the Water
This piece is all about capturing the beauty, serenity and warmth of the natural wood. The cherry was sourced from a farm overlooking a pasture of very content horses. The ancient pine came from a property on the shores of Pigeon Lake and the scarred ambrose maple came from somewhere in between.
"I go among the trees and sit still. All of my stirring becomes quiet around me like circles on the water." - Wendell Berry
Sunflowers
Our preoccupation with trees may have started on our forest hikes but it has led us on a journey to find new ways to tell their stories in their various states of decay. Quite honestly we find ourselves staring at wood, a lot. One day we noticed that the salvaged black walnut looked like sunflowers. That's all the motivation we needed to find our way to this piece!
Recollection of an Autumn Day
The lingering memory of a sunny autumn hike along sumac lined trails was the idea for this work. Nature provided the inspiration for the colour palette. The species of wood are maple, cherry, sycamore, cedar, walnut and ash.
Spawning Season
Hiking along Grindstone Creek in Hamilton we have witnessed the vibrant colour of the Chinook Salmon during spawning season. We chose to combine this visual with our memory of the turquoise coloured waters of our west coast hikes to create the colours for this piece. We reused pipe from a home renovation project because we loved the coloured patina and the idea of sustainability. The beautiful shapes and natural grains of the wood enhance the flowing movement of the salmon and water.
The walnut tree is associated with wisdom, knowledge, clarity and focus. The walnut for this work came from a magnificent old tree that was taken down for safety reasons. Throughout the process, we acknowledged the stories held in the energy of the tree. We felt a sense of awe and reverence as we worked; sanding, oiling and massaging each piece of wood. The addition of pear, apple, ash and spalted maple rounded out the piece. Colour was used to a minimum to maintain the integrity of the wood and to bring more of the natural world into the home.
This piece was completed for Purple Pine Lavender Farm using foraged wood from the property. Remnants of cherry, pear, spalted maple, sycamore, cedar and pussy willow were incorporated into the piece. We wanted to capture the perfection of the day - from the serene blue sky overhead to the softly swaying evergreens in the background, to the bees calmly gathering the last of the day's nectar to the many rows of aromatic purple hued lavender. The farm is a slice of paradise.
Killarney Provincial Park
Simple enough?
Your own private island with views of granite, cliffs, jack pines and clear sapphire lakes.
The rhythm of your soul, restored.