By Carolyn Martens
What kind of art do you do?
“I handcraft custom furniture from local trees. Like an artist who paints a picture using different pigments and brush strokes, I employ the color and texture of the wood and the strokes of various techniques such as carving, inlay, and marquetry, to create a work of art. I have always loved trees: they are amazingly strong plants that are deeply rooted in time and place. Their very structure of growth rings shows their years. I translate that story into an art form that my clients can use daily in their own time and place.”
What’s your process?
“I weave togethermy client’s unique needs, style, and interests into a one-of-a-kind piece. I find a storm-damaged, fallen tree, pull it out of the woods with my father, and mill the wood on our sawmill. After drying the lumber, I use hand and power tools to reveal the rich colors and the vibrant textures previously hidden in the rough-sawn boards. A rewarding challenge for me is carefully laying out the individual parts of the piece so that the grain and color from one piece flows into the next to create a cohesive whole.”
When did you start?
“Around 34 years ago, I fondly remember making dugout canoes with my older brother for our G.I. Joe men. My dad and grandfather taught us woodworking as we went through 4-H and beyond.”
If your art were a food, what type would it be?
“Locally grown classic food with a modern twist.”
What kind of music?
“A Beethoven composition.He has such range of emotion — from very sensitive melodies to big, strong sweeping symphonies.”
Find Peter’s work at ArtSplash Gallery and falkwoodstudio.com.
