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Merlayna Snyder, one of the artists who exhibits in our Winter Celebration Art show each year, is one of the selected artists to create a piece for the Robert Bateman Gallery. This series was sent to us from Merlayna and we wanted to share the exciting revelation of her piece with the world. Find out more about her work on her website.

The Creation of Merlayna's oneTree Exhibit Vessel 'Embracing Elegance'

My 200 pound piece from 100 year old Maple Tree - Live Edge Design, Duncan, B.C.

Watering the Wood to keep it from drying out and cracking. I want to sculpt this piece 'green'

First Chainsaw Cut

Ta-Da Let's get started.....

YIKES!

Next chainsaw cut hit a spike under the bark (pink ribbon). When the bark was removed, there was another smaller nail about an inch away. Did someone nail 'Wanted' posters on this 100 year old tree?

The shape of the piece is outlined

Chainsawing excess off the outside....

See the spalting patterns...

Spalting is what I like to call 'the Raku of Nature'. Lines are formed by active fungus to form 'zone lines' that protect the colony from attack by bacteria, insects, etc. The fungus causes pigmented material of various colors and porosity.

Chainsawing the inside shape

Why don't I take this bit off the outside now too?

More intense chainsaw cuts...

Almost done...

Using Lancelot Blades to remove wood ...

More Me and Lancelot....

This is what the piece looks like now

%$#@%&**(&^%$$$$ !!!!

Another nail has appeared when shaping the outside. The piece is almost the finished thickness, so I break the nail off and sand the metal with the outside of the vessel. It's a feature of this 100 year old piece of wood that is now preserved.

Hand rasping to make it smoother. Spalted maple has varied textures and degrees of hardness through the piece, making a smooth finish challenging.