Hello

My Story

My name is Steve Griffin, a retired Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), having worked in health system leadership for more than thirty years. I currently reside in the Possum Creek area near Soddy Daisy, TN. Being a lifelong learner, and avid DIY’er, (along with a touch of ADHD!) has led to a habit of hobbies and a broad accumulation of skills. My wife, Amanda (also a registered nurse), and I are aspiring world travelers, having visited 39 countries, so far.

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My current passion, intarsia (also referred to as quilting with wood), began as a pandemic pastime but rapidly grew as I discovered the satisfaction of incorporating many of my learned skills into a unique art form.  Going beyond the mosaic fashion of traditional intarsia, I strive to convey an increased sense of motion and drama.

A scroll saw is used to “unsew” various shapes from domestic and exotic woods carefully selected for their color, grain, and density. Utilizing a rotary tool and various sanders, the pieces are shaped, textured, finished, and fitted together in a puzzle-like pattern, resulting in a three-dimensional effect. In traditional intarsia, the pieces are mounted on a backer-board cut to the outline of the pattern, but I’ve adapted a mixed media technique to increase the dimensionality by “floating” figures on a larger square or rectangular background scene enhanced by paint, pyrography, acrylic resin, gemstone, and/or other materials. The piece is then framed in a custom shadowbox.

My primary inspirations are 19th century illustrations of classic fairy tales, folk lore, children’s stories, and myths originating in the Old-World.