cREATING EVERY DAY ART FOR LIFE

Welcome! We are a local business creating usable #EverydayArtForLife. I work in construction and found an art form to shape my skills, and my wife Trish joins me in operating The Shape Of Wood.

We recently talked with John Daley of KCFR, Colorado Public Radio 90.1FM, about our process…after his Nissan Leaf was crushed by a Silver Maple in Denver. Click here for the story.

My passion for woodworking, finding a solid used lathe in 2015, gifts for friends over the years…so it began! Attended a few pop-up events, then participated in The Park Hill Art Festival in August 2020 enjoying visits with neighbors, friends, and local art lovers. Many of us are eager for community and grateful to congregate with safe practices.

The Shape of Wood uses hyperlocal sourcing in creating bowls, cutting boards, platters, furniture, and commissioned work.

The natural resources wealth in our city of trees is tremendous. It can yield some precious finds such as the dense and beautiful Black Walnut or reveal iridescent beauty from fibrous Cottonwood.

Neighbors and friends notify us if they are taking down a beloved tree, and in return, they receive a bowl from it.

When there is beautiful useable wood, we can rescue it from a landfill. Call us if you see something local! If you are taking down a tree on your own property, we have a special offer in return for the harvest: pbc@theshapeofwood.com | 303.807.7086.

Important to know…we are not a tree removal company, but will remove sections of wood already downed by those professionals, to salvage for new creations.

The value of each tree and items made from it are based on how commonly or rarely it grows in this climate, how difficult it is to turn or shape, and how stable it is to finish (dry climates quickly crack beautiful wood). Some shapes are more expensive than others because of how much wood is used, or if I can core other pieces from it. A list of all the species we have found locally and worked with is below.

Each piece is handmade. All items are made from solid wood. Some pieces have Wabi Sabi features using clear or colored resin to stabilize a crack or live feature—those are bowls or containers and are food safe; they hold liquid. Sculptures can be a bowl or container; we don’t recommend holding liquid in those. Imperfections are part of this everyday art and can include cracks or knots. This doesn’t impact quality or usefulness. And yes, all baby bowls and rattles are safe to use!

Spalted wood is special because of the patterned features it reveals, and knotted woods are especially beautiful. These may show variable pricing based on their availability and difficulty in handling. Not all of these species are available all the time; we work through each supply as it becomes available.

Ambrosia Maple (unusual)

Aspen

Birch

Black Walnut

Box Elder (a Maple species)

Cedar

Chestnut

Cottonwood

Crabapple

Elm (several varieties)

Honey Locust

Kentucky Coffee

Linden

Juniper (very rare)

Oak

Pear/Ornamental Pear

Russian Olive

Silver Maple (we love burls; often this species is unstable)

Sugar Maple

Sumac

White/Weeping Birch (unusual)

Note: People will ask us about Spruce or Pine. These species are best utilized in planks. Sometimes bowls are created when pieces are glued together. Often these species have fibrous grains, or a sticky tree sap (not good on a lathe or other power tools). I’m safely experimenting in the meantime.

We accept online Venmo and PayPal online orders, and telephone orders if that’s your style. Take a look at our offerings, and contact us if you see something you like…or have a custom design idea: pbc@theshapeofwood.com | 303.807.7086.

We are available evening hours and by appointment. Peter Cozens, Woodworker, or Patricia Smith, Operations, look forward to meeting you!