Summer Arts in Santa Fe - The Art Of Marquetry August 1-5, 2011
“Creating one-of-a-kind furniture represents a unique blending of the beauty and elegance of the natural world and that created by the human imagination.“
Website: http://www.cvstevens.com
I studied furnituremaking at the College of Redwoods in northern California, a program renowned for its excellence in craftsmanship and attention to detail. There, under the instruction of master cabinetmaker Jim Krenov, I developed an extensive background in traditional cabinetmaking techniques and hand skills. The focused environment of school became the setting for me to begin exploring the delicate art of marquetry on my own, as well as to refine my chip carving.
I draw inspiration from Asian art and woodworking, and the work of some of the great designer/makers of the past like Edward Barnsley and Wharton Esherick as well as my teacher, Jim Krenov. Some of the ideas I get most excited about are sparked by glimpses of nature in the woods around our home. I feel that making objects that will be used by people for generations to come is both inspiring and a responsibility. It’s part of a link with cabinetmakers of long-ago who simply did their best.
I like the idea of a new owner discovering things about the piece long after it’s become part of their home – hidden compartments, textured surfaces, surprise carvings – all fingerprints of the craftsman. I enjoy the challenge of a complicated design, the uncertainty that goes along with this type of work and how completely involved I have to be. While the completed piece is very rewarding, the process of making it is the most important part.
Striving to work at this level of refinement over the past few years has helped me establish new ideas about grace and beauty, and to develop honest values that will last my lifetime, like patience and personal commitment to do my best. Above all, my goal is to create works that are aesthetically pleasing, while adhering to my artistic values, my attention to detail, and my sense of quality.
