This piece of Claro Walnut had curls, swirls, flames, a bit of sapwood, a knot, and some dry rot. It wasn't going to be good for a larger functional piece but held too much promised beauty to be cut up for small items. Wanting to keep all of the good, I started to cut away the bad, which, when … finished, suggested a direction. When all the rot was gone and the carving was done, the hand sanding, oiling and waxing fanned the flames and brought the swirls and the curls into focus. The carved Yellowheart is more integral than base adding dimension and possibility.

But in the end, it might just be about the wood.

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