The People’s Choice and Editor’s Choice winners and a gallery of all of the entries in the fretwork portrait category
Simply Wood | Wildlife Projects | Natural Wooden Toys | Woodburning with Style
People’s Choice
Rust-O-Ration
by Kerry Hallam, Sumter, S.C.
“I came across this photo while searching for old cars on the web,” said Kerry Hallam of the image that inspired Rust-o-ration. He secured permission from the photographer to use the photo and began cutting. Kerry stack-cut three portraits at once, using oak and Baltic birch plywood. The portrait consists of 474 individual cuts.
A Mother’s Touch
by Jay Hammerle, Houston, Tex.
The editors admired the restraint evident in Jay Hammerle’s portrait of his wife and daughter. It is very evocative, but uses just a few well-placed cuts. Jay used two computer programs to create the pattern for A Mother’s Touch, which is based on a photograph taken by his son, Clayton Hammerle of Hammer Photography. Jay originally cut the portrait from oak. “There was a true letdown when the grain took over the finished product and I realized that I would have to change the material and re-cut the whole thing again to make it look right.” He switched to Baltic birch plywood for its softer, less-distracting grain. Jay said, “I feel good knowing that the portrait of my wife and daughter came out well enough that others like and recognize who they are in it. This inspires me to do other portraits and try to get better at scrolling.”