William Blake

William Blake: Time is Eternity

2015, oiled black walnut version #1, 12"x36" collection of D. Hewitt

Woodgrain for me always seems so organic, so flowing.. it's as if you could compress time and make it act like water. This chuck of walnut was that kind, where the text and the grain flowed together seamlessly, adding emphasis to the text of William Blake. I've only used this text once before, for an anniversary piece that I'll discuss shortly. This one, however, was a gift to a friend after the sudden loss of a spouse. I hope it brought some measure of comfort, and will continue to do so over the years.

Time is Eternity, version #2
2013, oiled black walnut and lucite
15" high
collection of S. Staruch

The other time I used the Blake text was for an anniversary gift. After much discussion, I decided to break away from the 2D panel format and go with something 3D, something kinetic. This is constructed from massive walnut triangles with lucite discs separating them. It allows light to shine through (get it?), and allows each triangle to turn independently of the others (kind of trinitarian, I think..). The Blake text is placed on the perimeter of each triangle, and I designed a logo for the couple with their first name initials (S & N) intertwined, carved into the top triangle. Seemed like a nice anniversary touch..

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Chasing Arnold Flaten

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