Making Magnificent Wood Art

Making Magnificent Wood Art is a unique dive into a challenging yet invigorating art form: transforming ordinary wood into extraordinary decorative art pieces. Join author Meleah Gabhart as she teaches you how to maximize your scroll saw and bandsaw. Inside, you'll find detailed projects to help you hone your skills, such as step-by-step guides for creating a flower mandala, or even carving realistic-looking leaves. It's all part of Gabhart's creative philosophy: art is an opportunity to explore how transformable ordinary objects can be, reflecting the best of ourselves.

Meleah Gabhart, a North Carolina-based artist, creates vibrant wood mosaics that capture the wildness and movement of nature through intricate, carved shapes in their natural colors. Originally a scientist, Meleah worked on DNA repair at The University of North Carolina under Nobel Prize winner Aziz Sancar. Her transition from science to art reflects a continued exploration of the unknown--now through personal expression, freedom, and feeling. Pushing the boundaries of woodworking, Meleah combines scroll saw and band saw techniques with carving tools, setting her work apart within the genre.