By Chris Bavender
People, places, animals, even vehicles provide inspiration for Alison Czarcinski’s wood art creations.
“Actions, beliefs, feelings – these are all forms of art. These are where my ideas originate from,” Czarcinski said. “Every design I have made, I have formed some sort of meaningful connection with.”
Czarcinski has been working on her wood art since last September. At the time, she was pursuing a passion for photography. She decided to devote the majority of her time to wood art for two reasons: the gratification of the positive feedback and her curiosity to view the finished product.
“I have found that photography and my wood art have a symbiotic relationship because photography has provided a foundation for my wood art collection and my wood art enhances the photographs beautifully,” she said.
She watched online videos and followed tutorials to teach herself how to create wood art.
“Once I found something that caught my eye, I would meticulously follow the tutorials step-by-step in order to achieve identical results,” she said. “Once I finished, I would alter the designs and add additional effects that would enhance the images overall.”
The wood art pieces are made using Photoshop. Depending on what a client wants, Czarcinski will either transfer the design to a piece of wood or place the images in a picture frame. Creating pieces can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour or more.
“Sometimes I will work on a piece for an hour, step back, stare at it and be totally disgusted by it,” Czarcinski said. “I’ll redo the entire piece until I am satisfied with the end result.”
Czarcinski said she finds people have an emotional connection to her wood art. A visit to France in June provided one such moment.
“I made five pieces of wood art and placed them in a beautiful picture frame for a woman I had never met before. Her son, who was also an artist, passed away the same day and year as my father,” she said. “It was my hope that if I made this for her, she might receive some closure. When I gave it to her, she instantly broke down. She told me it was beautiful, and I shared a moment with her I will never forget.”
Czarcinski’s wood art is currently available only through her website, getyourshutteron.com, or Facebook facebook.com/getyourshutteron.
