Brian Dawson

Tiger Tiger Lumpy Box

Size:150mm x 130mm x 140mm high

Price: $250

Materials: This is a composite ring box made of many layers of different wood including jarrah, myrtle and camphor laurel. The thistle in the interior is made of aluminium nails
I like to think the box is tactile and organic, good to touch and full of movement
The finish is Livos Natural Oil Sealer. 

Care: An occasional wipe with a soft duster should keep it looking fresh
Avoid direct sunlight

 

Tiger Myrtle Veneer Box

Size: 195mm square and is 280 mm high

Price $300

Inspiration and Materials: The idea for this box arose when I heard that the exhibition was called ‘Tiger Tiger”. I had some highly figured tiger myrtle veneer and I chose Huon Pine as the interior and Blackwood as the lid with a tiger myrtle handle . These are all Tasmanian timbers which I brought back from there  a few years ago. The finish is Livos Natural Oil Sealer
Although I mostly make non rectilineal  pieces, the wonderful “tigerish” markings called for a more traditional style

Care: An occasional wipe with a soft duster should keep it looking fresh
Avoid direct sunlight

About Brian

I have been working with wood for 20 years. I was trained at Sturt School for Wood in Mittagong. Initially, I followed the “craftsman” route by learning artisan skills to produce everyday , practical items such as boxes, chairs, tables, cabinets and the like
 
Whilst this was satisfying – and necessary to achieve craft skills- I wanted to move to a more creative space and develop other forms, particularly not rectilineal, and to introduce other materials, such as aluminium nails
 
The organic nature of wood, its colours, densities, growth patterns, smells, textures and its tactile qualities all contributed to my love of the material. The never-ending learning of new techniques, experimentation with different methods and the hands –on approach contributed to my passion.
 
The actual idea usually starts as an image which I sketch on a large pad.
 
 I draw various options until I am satisfied, I have a pleasing form. Then I dimension to scale and start making. Almost always, the piece changes as the design matures and often when I am not satisfied with the emerging form, I will discard and build anew until I have a result that looks ok to me . Of course, there are many traps and
setbacks with the actual making, but this is quite acceptable and quite normal
 
“Designing and making and risk taking are all part of the same thing. Creativity is fundamentally a high-risk activity. It demands that we destroy as much as we create. Having to specify things way out ahead is too safe a way of going about it”
 You can see these products and more of Brian's work here