Playing in a soft glow of light

Shoji lamps are a wonderful medium for me to play with as they combine several of my favorite elements.

Light is the energy of life.

Wood is an expression of light, and continues to vibrate with its energy even after it has been harvested, radiating warmth to the touch and the eye.

The paper used in a shoji lamp, washi, is woven magic; it takes some of the light passing through for itself, yet the light is richer for it—softer, warmer, more inviting.

Woodworking is my play, my personal expression of the energy of light.

Shoji lamps

The series of shoji lamps represents a journey through time, beginning with some of my earlier lamps and ending with the most recent.

Many of the lamps are accompanied by a a side journey you can take to explore a bit more about the lamp, its shape, and my experience creating it.

Some of the side journeys also contain references to particularly helpful or interesting related books and other resources.

Recipe for contentment

These are my reflections on the tools, learning resources, and tool and wood sources that make it possible.

Creating shoji lamps is my personal exploration of design, materials, and technique. I enjoy a tremendous satisfaction as these designs reveal themselves to me, I love the light a shoji lamp casts more than any other, and I simply have a wonderful time playing in their soft glow.

Crafting these lamps and enjoying the wonder and laughter they provoke in me is one of the greatest gifts I give myself, helping to offset the insanity of this crazy world we live in.