The decorative carvings of Kristina Madsen
Kristina Madsen gets her carving inspiration from textiles, nature, tradition, and some amazing and distinguished mentors. See the results and get an inside view of the process.
Synopsis: Where does carver Kristina Madsen get the inspiration for her varied and detailed carvings? From textiles, nature, tradition, and some amazing and distinguished mentors. See the results and get an inside view of the process.
A new carving pattern never just pops into my head. A vague and general impression floats around while pages of my well-worn library offer small suggestions. I leaf through my collection of old sample boards and then leaf through them again.
Textiles are my primary source of inspiration. The design components of these woven, dyed, and printed patterns—their layouts, their combinations of motifs and colors—are a vast and rich material resource. All types of patterns intrigue me: repetitive, non-repetitive, monochromatic, polychromatic, representational, abstract. I move from one to another as furniture form and whim dictate.
The patterns I design are usually multi-layered, with a foreground, a background, and often a middle ground.…
Start your 14-day FREE trial to continue reading this story.
Plus, access more than 1,900 in-depth articles and more when you become a member.
Start Your Free Trial NowAlready a member? Log In
Comments
Such beautiful work. I've admired Madsen's work, I realize, for 30 years! Thank you for running this article by her. I love that the initial inspiration for a lifelong style can be traced to a green woodworking tradition in the Fiji Islands!
Log in or become a member to post a comment.
Sign up Log in