Craig of Studio Tupla



Craig of Studio Tupla

About The Artist

Craig Johnson • Grand Rapids, MN
Furniture

A lifelong woodworker, the foundation for my furniture making career was laid down while studying cabinetmaking at Saint Paul College in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I refined my skills at the Inside Passage School of Fine Cabinetmaking in British Columbia, Canada, where I am a graduate of the Artisan, Craftsman and Journeyman programs. In the tradition of James Krenov, the talented Robert Van Norman led me to discover the profound effect a new way of working could have on my approach to this craft.



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Q&A with the Artist

Tell us how your work is made.


What makes you passionate about the medium you work with?

Woodworking and furniture making challenge me to balance overall composition with close attention to the most minute details. Every shape and line has intention. Every surface and edge has been touched and cared for. I strive to let the grain of the wood speak for itself, while juxtaposing more rigid geometries of the man-made world beside the natural aspects of the wood. Each piece is a quiet celebration and reminder of the intimate relationship that exists between us and nature.

What is something unique about you or your practice?

I enjoy sharing my work with people, encouraging them to slow down and take a moment to once again see, feel and appreciate the amazing connection that exists between wood, as an element of nature, and each person, as my furniture becomes an enduring part of their life. Properly tuned hand tools, a deep appreciation for the chosen material, and a calm, sensitive approach to design and to the making itself, all combine to set the tone for my work.