Full Size Decorative Mirror Sage Brown

All Wood. The Coastal Images are made from only cedar to maintain a unique but consistent grain pattern. Mirrors are crafted using a variety of wood species for a variety of grain and color. Mirrors may also contain naturally aged wood such as barn siding or shiplap to create a particular artistic effect. The Abstract art pieces are made primarily from Poplar because Popular has a closed grain (smooth) texture resulting in a smooth painted finish more aligned with contemporary decor style.

A burning and sealing process. During the wood prepping phase, I will set aside pieces of wood that have unique grain characteristics. Later that grain is sectioned, heated just short of burning, is pretreated, and when cool color is added. The burned grain will resist absorbing the paint/dye but the soft wood beside the grain will absorb the medium. The result is a striking mix of grain and color. It is one feature that makes my work unique.

Yes they are all individual pieces. The preparation process is extensive. To start, the wood is run through a thickness planer. Then each large piece is run through a table saw to “rip” it to various widths. After that, the long pieces are cut to different lengths and arranged in a pattern that creates the dimensional appearance desired for that specific art piece. Lastly, they must all be sanded prior to coloring.

Yes, each piece is painted individually before being assembled. If not, the paint would bridge, or fill in, the gaps between each piece. This would ruin the clean lines separating each individual piece of wood, and the dimensional appearance would be less striking.

My landscape pieces take between 18 - 22 hours to complete. Full size mirrors take 28-32 hours to complete. Wood planing, cutting and prepping is the longest part.

Two part fastening process consisting of wood glue and 23 gauge pin nails. Pieces are fastened to a backer board and to each other. Wood glue absorbs into the wood fibers. When dry, the glue is far stronger than the wood itself.

I use an assortment of mediums depending on the art piece and the effect I want. I use acrylics, latex, wood stains and wood dyes. Wood dyes are the most interesting because their absorption rate varies tremendously in different species of wood.
I also use a tinting process. All of my pieces are sealed with a clear water-based polycrylic sealer to preserve the color. Tinting is a process where you add color, usually a dye, to the sealer before applying. This adds a subtle translucent tone to the entire piece that enhances the depth of color.

The large full size mirrors (60”x24”) weigh approximately 30-35 pounds. That’s not much more than a large bathroom vanity mirror. Each mirror comes with hanging hardware consisting of D-rings and braided wire rated for 75 pounds. I use #12 screws that are screwed into a wall stud. If you prefer, you can purchase a metal hanger referred to as French Cleats or Z Clips found at your local box store.