Michelle Holzapfel
process
I use many wood-carving technologies: bandsaw and chainsaw, heavy- and light-duty air-powered grinders, as well as hand-tools. The model—a bowl draped with fabric—and the rough-carved bowl begins to take form.
Three images show carving in progress.
Left: Commercial wood bleach helps make wood look like natural linen.
Center: Pyrography (wood burning) creates contrast in both texture and color, without the use of stains or dyes. Detail of ‘embroidered” edging.
Right: the finished bowl.
On other types of pieces, polished surfaces are accomplished with a variety of abrasive techniques, from coarse to very fine. A base coat of Watco penetrating oil, and several coats of Minwax Antique Oil finish most pieces.