As a medium, working with wood invites interacting with the wood itself. Probably similar to sculpture (bronze, stone, clay, etc) – the manipulation and finishing of the medium is the “artistic process”.
Speaking abstractly, we can look at two identically-shaped pieces, such as a jewelry box, and find one more appealing than another – the lines, the way the wood grain matches (or not), the smoothness and texture of the finish – all come into play. For furniture, there’s the additional element of function – is a chair comfortable, can it withstand weight, is there adequate room for legs beneath a desk, and so on.
When woodworking, all these elements come into play during a project and need to be accounted for both in the design and during construction so that the piece is both functional and appealing – form and function.
Creating something, whether a piece of furniture or a functional piece (such as a jewelry box or necklace rack), is the opportunity to focus on problem-solving and “artisanry” as a way to bring visions to life and create something aesthetically appealing and serving a useful purpose.
