Art ‘N a Box

I’m getting a bit more subjective here, but for me and my work, I put esthetics right up there with workmanship.  I have seen many boxes that exhibit outstanding workmanship, in terms of joinery, finish, etc., but just don’t cut it visually.  Wood color(s), texture, and proportion all contribute to making a box also a piece of art.  That said, as in other areas of art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  I know, because I have finished more than one box, stood back and took a good look, and said, “ugh!”.  Yes, at times if a box is being made for a specific function, then function must lead form, and sometime drive visual dissonance.  But even then, that can be minimized through careful control over the aspects other than size which is driven by the intended use.

Proportion is one area that needs constant attention.  A beautifully crafted box will not pass visual muster if the handle is too big for the rest of the box for example.  Or a small box made of full 3/4″ thick stock will look too clunky, particularly around the top edge when the lid is open or removed. 

Box dimensions also come into play.  A useful tool to be aware of is the Golden Rectangle.  This is based on the Golden Ratio, which is the ratio of the length to the width of what is said to be one of the visually pleasing rectangular shapes.  This relationship has been know and used for centuries in both art and architecture.  The ratio is 1:1.618, ie, the long side of the rectangle should be 1.618 times the length of the short side.  While I don’t use the ratio slavishly, I have learned that the closer I get to it, the more visually pleasing the box.  You can use your calculator, or, check out one of these two web sites for easy calculators, as well as a visual representation.

http://goldenratiocalculator.com/

http://www.mathopenref.com/rectanglegolden.html

Well, the schedule for the summer show season is finalized. Today I received the last final acceptance …. Kohler Midsummer Festival of the Arts in Sheboygan.  With 10 shows scheduled over 4 months, I’m looking forward to re-connecting with customers and artists, and making new friends and associates this season. See you soon!

One of the most frequently asked questions is how I separate the lid on a glued-up box.  I’ve tried most of the ways and pretty much settled on using the table saw.  This technique is the same as one described by Doug Stowe in his book on box making.  Using a FTG blade, I cut completely through the two long sides (picture 1).  Then I lower the blade to about 1/32″ less than the wall thickness and cut the two short sides.  Finally, I use a Dozuki saw to cut through the remaining web and separate the two pieces. 

One of the things I teach in my classes is learning new techniques while rescuing yourself from your mistakes.  If I ever made a box in which everything worked perfectly I think I would have it bronzed. One of the mistakes I have made more than once is not paying attention when drilling for hinge screws and going right through the top!  The best way to fix that is often adding an inlay around the top to cover those exposed holes.  Now I am not saying that this particular box is one of those, but if it was, this is what the inlay might look like!