Artistic Process with Natural Materials
Summary
In this article, we explore the artistic process of Charlie Bake, an artist and builder who creates unique pieces by weaving natural materials together in an organic way. Charlie’s process involves foraging for materials, experimenting with them, and creating twisty and curvy shapes that create a sense of motion when put together. He is currently working on a smaller version of his largest piece, a series of human-sized bird nests connected with a bridge.
Table of Contents
- Foraging for Materials
- Creating Nest-Like Structures
- Finding the Perfect Fit
- Nature’s Inspiration
Foraging for Materials
Charlie Bake likes to forage for materials that speak to him. He looks for a specific type of branchy material that grows in dense wooded areas and has good rot resistance. He uses loppers and hand pruners to cut the material and an arborist hand saw for bigger diameter material or hard-to-reach areas. He only takes materials that are not thriving and won’t harm the area where they are taken from. Charlie’s assistant, Lun, does a final quality check before the piece is done.
Creating Nest-Like Structures
Charlie’s artistic process involves puzzle piecing the twigs together and fastening them with screws to create nest-like structures. He tends to gravitate towards twisty and curvy shapes, which create a sense of motion when put together. Charlie uses a bandsaw for intricate cuts and shaping.
Finding the Perfect Fit
Filling in the last bit of voids in a piece can be time-consuming for Charlie because he is searching for the perfect piece to fit in that spot. However, sometimes a piece just naturally fits into a certain spot, even if it wasn’t originally intended for that spot. Charlie hopes that his art inspires people with the care and work that went into it, while also having a natural look to it.
Nature’s Inspiration
Charlie appreciates the sculptural pieces that nature creates on its own and feels like he is borrowing and combining things that are already there because nobody can create these shapes better than Mother Nature. He enjoys foraging for materials and recognizes certain shapes that speak to him. Charlie sometimes starts with the material first and experiments with it to see how it fits together, which leads to the overall form of the piece.
Conclusion
Charlie Bake’s artistic process involves foraging for materials, creating nest-like structures, finding the perfect fit, and being inspired by nature. His unique pieces showcase the beauty of natural materials and the artistry of combining them in an organic way.
