Nature is shaped by many forces. These forces dictate the growth and decay of the natural world. The abrasive forces of dirt, wind, water, and fire shape and mold, while bugs and many other organisms promoting decay, alter the structure one molecule at a time. It’s in the amazing beauty of these forces, shaping their power on the world at large, where the creative spark of imagination is born, and ultimately comes to life.

For Kasai, it all begins with exploring. Driving, hiking, prying up rocks and logs, crawling under and over every tangled obstacle in our path, we search for that magical moment. The spark, ignites the imagination, as we have located a hidden gem in the woods. Somewhere in that rotten, broken down piece of wood; lonely, forgotten and ignored by most who walk by it, is a second life ready to be reborn with a new story to tell.

This raw piece of nature, which holds that illusive spark of imaginative power, is hauled back to the shop. Once at the shop, it must dry. This drying time can vary, but can often take several years to eliminate the moisture trapped inside. Once a piece is dry; and even sometimes before, we look at the piece from all sides, deciding which way to present its beauty. We may choose to expose the grain and shape ever so slightly; to enhance its natural curves, highlighting the juxtaposition of the ultra smooth, against the raw natural texture. And once again we let it dry, in preparation for the final shaping and refinement process. The rotten wood, decay, and bugs must be removed, while preserving the natural texture.

The predominant method we use for this refining process, is fire. An extremely time intensive process of burning the wood ensues, removing the rot and the bugs. Using a field torch or a smaller hand propane torch, the wood is burned. Brushes, that vary in stiffness; along with other various tools, are used to slowly take down the rotten wood, layer by layer, while preserving the exotic natural texture. A hint of sanding, a bit of natural oil and varnish, and a whole lot of love refines these natural wonders. We have now refined what nature has so perfectly shaped. Each piece has lived a unique life and has a very personal story to tell. We trust these one of a kind art creations will connect with you, refining your imagination, as you share your life with others