Creative Woodworks & crafts 2000-03, страница 52

In a modest home near the New Jersey shore, employed depend upon the subject. For example, Robert Johnson and his wife, Toni, live a quiet life mountains and trees are hand sculpted and then with iheir two sons, Tim and Jesse. The walls of wire brushed for grain enhancement. For balloons their home are adorned with large pieces of unique and boats, natural-colored hardwood laminates are artwork—a form of sculptural marquetry that used. The sculptured pieces are glued up and then Robert learned from his lather. Bach wood ere- pressed down onto the marquetry background ation is truly breathtaking—a gallery-quality work with a veneer press. Styrofoam is often placed of art that beckons the viewer to look, and look over the sculptured pieccs before they are secured again. in position.

__Once the sculptured

1———--------------—

1:pieces have been added, gbarving tools' are used to clean up bits of .:.,<>'lip 1%. ; Styrofoam and traces of

\ • 11" -excess glue. Robert

asserts that the sculp-^ tured pieces are the key

Ilk ^ | to the three-dimensional

^^^^Smss^ |feffect that distinguishes \ m^mmmmm^'^s work from conven-

kOu&^I* tional wood inlay.

The technique m Si

Robert calls the icchnique %' "relief inlay," a process combining inlay, overlay,

and lamination, along ;J| with wire brushing,

bleaching, staining, and , |1|

burning to enhance the ''. ^EL naLural patterns of the ffSSffl wood. Because more

than 50 species of wood llf|ppf

arc used, Robert is always ||f |f

on the lookout for inter- ||§||||

esting grain patterns, fl|ip« especially for depicting ^

"For the sculptured Interesting grain patterns embellish sky and water.

the entire background is Robert assembles a balloon scene.

sanded with a disc sander

mounted in a drill press. This step is very difficult, Doing what he loves as extreme carc must be taken not to damage the Although the work is somewhat seasonal, Robert is thin wood. Alter the tape has been sanded off, the happy to report LhaL he has been able to work lull-marquetry background is sanded again, this time time as a wood artist for over 17 years, and that his with a very fine disc. Finally, a gentle hand sand- wife is now able to stay home with their kids. "The

ing is performed. best part abouL what 1 do," he notes, "is being able

Next, the sculptured wood pieces are added, to set my schedule according to what my family is

Various techniques are used lo shape the wood doing, as opposed to having to be at the shop at a

and to bring out its grain, and the methods certain hour."

From father to son

^Robert's 1'aLher was originally a cabinetmaker who i began to sell his sculptured creations to some j of his customers. This, in turn, led to selling his art-fework at shows, at which j time he also began to teach his techniques to 1 both of his sons. : While his lather's work ; included heavily-textured .scuiplure and mosaic, ^Robert's art has evolved gin to "a more contemporary, cleaner look with jmore inlay than sculpture." ; As seen in the photos, his | pieces consistently express Ithe beauty and tranquility ; of nature. Each piece Lakes Is ever al weeks to design, sand realism is given a highpriority.