River and Sun in One Walnut Slab, Carved Wall Art

This one started with boards carrying a live edge and pale sapwood running through them, and the design was drawn to use exactly that. The light band snakes across the lower half like a river, the darker heartwood falls away on either side as valley walls, and the upper right corner becomes a sun with tight concentric rings cut around a smooth uncarved centre.

It is built from solid wood blocks joined together, then worked down in flowing layers so the terrain gains real depth. The rings are cut one by one and you can follow every ridge with your eye. The finish stays clear, which keeps the burl figure, the shift from grey brown to cream, and the small natural fissures all part of the picture.

The two halves ship separately, padded and protected, so the carved crests stay intact and the shipping cost stays sane. Assembly means hanging them level and butted close, at which point the seam disappears into the carving. Instructions are included, and the workshop will help if the halves are not sitting the way you want.