Throughout my life, woodworking and carpentry has been one of my major creative outlets. Since I was thirteen, it has been my main method of expressing my desire to design and create. While I have never taken a proper shop/woodworking class, my family has taught and supported me as my interest and abilities grew.
As I have grown older and my knowledge of the medium expanded, I have seeked out ways in which I can apply this knowledge practically. In high school, I became the student shop assistant, which gave me the responsibility of cleaning and maintaining the shop’s machines as well as training students and faculty on them. After I graduated, my school offered me a position to come back and help put on a camp which introduced incoming students to how the shop could be utilized for their own creative output. I have since been commissioned to build a number of larger projects such as sheds, decks, fences and retaining walls. To gain a better understanding of professional carpentry, I have also worked for a general contractor who specializes in residential construction.
Literature Table
In the Summer of 2022, I designed and built a piece of furniture to serve as both a small side table as well as place to store certain books. My design utilized the technique of kerf cutting in order to “curve” the inch thick Baltic birch plywood which I used. The geometry of the profile creates two curved bays which are deigned to store literature and small objects. There was a significant learning curve while using the technique of kerf bending for the first time and the final piece is far from my standard of completion. This is a project I plan to come back to in the future in order to perfect my technique and approach.
Schulman Light Fixture
In the summer of 2023, I was commissioned to design and fabricate a light fixture to illuminate a large dining space. After working with the client to develop a design, I locally sourced the material, hardware and shades to complete the project.
Collapsible Crate System
In order to improve the organization of my home shop, I designed a modular crate system. The crates are designed to be collapsible to allow storage when not in use. In order to maintain the crates structural integrity whole allowing them to be collapsible, I utilized a ratchet strap and finger joints. While light and easily store-able, the crates are incredibly strong and can easily withstand the pressures of stacking and loading