Creative Information
Our Creative Process
Living in the heart of the Rockies we have access to bountiful Aspen colonies that allow us to select only the very best logs and branches that are used to create unique works of art. Our Aspen wood comes from an elevation of over 9,000 feet, which means the wood is strong, cured, and has colors and characteristics found only in Colorado high country Aspen.
The process starts by David and Whitney hiking throughout Aspen colonies, looking for and carefully choosing only “standing dead Aspen trees” that have the exceptional characteristics that are essential to create unique pieces of art. These characteristics are grain colors, natural twists and various shapes, fascinating insect tracks and decorative burls.
Aspen Woodworking Studios only uses standing dead or recently downed Aspen trees to make artistic creations. We are committed to improving the health of the forest by removing dead trees to provide Aspen saplings with the full sunlight they need to grow and reproduce. Removal also decreases spread of some diseases that infect Aspen trees and reduces the intensity of forest fires. However, we never “clear cut”, since leaving some standing dead Aspen trees is valuable to the beauty and healthy ecosystem of our forests and provides habitat and other uses for various species.
Once the wood is gathered and stored near the Studio, the next step in the process is the meticulous selection of just the right pieces of wood to use in creating the piece. The storehouse of wood provides a large variety of different shapes, sizes and colors to select from and incorporate into the design of the each piece, with the bends, twists and different colors of wood being carefully joined to the create unique artistic pieces throughout the year.
After the pieces of wood are selected, the bark is carefully hand peeled off the log or branch using a combination of fingers, chisels and a draw knife to obtain an unscarred piece of wood to use next in the process.
Each piece of wood is then cut precisely in so the pieces can be joined together to make a piece of fine art. Painstaking attention is given to creating various joints that are used to ensure structural integrity of the creation and allow the piece to endure many generations of functional use. To enhance to beauty of the artistic creation, screws, nails and other non-wood contraptions are almost never used. (Bed rails require joining using large lag bolts to provide the required structural integrity for holding the mattress and patrons, with the holes covered by Aspen wood end caps). The various joints and methods include:
- Mortise and tenon joinery. Hand workmanship, augmented by vigilant use of special tools is used to make tight joints that connect logs together. Hardwood dowels are carefully placed (in hidden locations when possible) to augment the strength of the joint.
- Blind fastening. Shelves and table tops which are made of sections of wood; edges and other square joints are joined using wood glue and ultra strong biscuit joints.
- Mitered corners. A difficult process to master is creation of mitered corners that give the appearance of on continuous log. David is a master of this technique and it is used, when needed, on all of our creations.
- Dovetails. All drawers are joined using tight fitting dovetails to add beauty to the joint and enhance structural integrity.
- Before joining, each piece is gently hand sanded at least three times, and often many more, until the wood is silky smooth to the touch, except for holes and knots which are left as natural as possible to bring out the natural beauty of the wood and are only sanded to the point of safety. Once the pieces are joined together the entire piece is sanded again one or more times.
Finally, three or more coats of finish are conscientiously applied, with fine sanding done between coats, until a clear, smooth and desired gloss to the finish is achieved.
The finished artistic creation is securely packed for shipping to ensure our patrons receive their order in the same condition it was in when it left the Studio.
Artistic Creations – Functional Use
Aspen Wood - Standing Dead Aspen Trees
“Standing dead Aspen” is a term that is used to describe Aspen trees that have died but are still standing in the high country forest. While still standing, Aspen wood is not subject to moisture and rot that downed tree wood suffers from, which reduces the strength and integrity of the wood. Nature works wonders on standing dead trees to produce wood that has astonishing character.
Wind and nearby objects, such as other trees, cause the live Aspen tree to grow in fascinating twists and various shapes. Once dead, sun, rain, snow, bark damage done by browsing animals, especially elk’s antlers, (which make an entry point for microorganisms and fungal diseases, such as Cytospora and other cankers) – work together over many years to transform the wood in standing dead Aspen from a uniform tan color to wood with marvelous color variations from tan to light and dark browns, shades of red, grey, and even black. Insects work their magic in standing dead Aspen, etching “zigzag worm tracks” into the cambium and outer part of the sapwood of the tree, giving the wood fascinating character.
About Aspen Trees
Aspen is one of the most widely distributed trees in North America and are one of the few deciduous trees hearty enough to survive in a harsh mountain environment. In western North America, Quaking Aspens grow primarly in portions of the Rocky Mountain Range (which extends from Canada to Mexico).
Quaking aspens (Populus tremuloides) have skinny leaf stems that cause them to quiver in the slightest breeze provide beautiful scenery and a rich habitat for wild life, along with significant contribution to the forest ecosystem.
Aspen trees are considered to be one of the largest organisms in the world (Aspen “groves or stands” are termed a colony -- a single organism). At maturity, this medium-size deciduous tree usually reaches heights of 60 to over 80 feet with a trunk size from 3 to over 24 inches.