Better knock on wood

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Jim Everett has carved a niche in the heirloom business.

Everett specializes in a rare art form called intarsia, which involves using pieces of carved cedar wood to create a mosaic with three-dimensional effects.

He only uses cedar in his pieces due to the variety of colors and texture the wood offers. Cedar also ages beautifully. He augments his colors with the judicious use of a wood burner.

"God put an awful lot of color in that wood _ you just got to find it," Jim explained.

Jim first read about intarsia in Wood Magazine.

"I saw it and thought, 'I can do that,'" Everette said.

Actually, Jim's work isn't exactly intarsia in form. Traditionally, intarsia artist try to make their work seem seamless. Instead, Jim uses the seams and the spacing in between to stand out, adding more texture to his creation.

His work is very detailed. For example he uses wood knots to fashion eyes in his animals and people.

"The Lord has made eyes longer than I have and he puts knots in wood for a reason, so I figured I have to use them for something," Jim said. "My inspiration comes from the challenge of using the choices of color and texture that the Lord provides in red cedar."

His art takes many forms from wall hangings to functional furniture including beds, cabinets and doors.

He loves a challenge.

"Faces are the hardest to recreate," Jim said, "but watching a client's face as he or she looks at the finished piece is worth far more than the money."

Prior to his days as a working artist, Everett studied art as a youngster but abandoned it for more "serious" work like building trailers and making signs. At one point, he worked at a sewage treatment plant all while continuing his interest in woodworking.

His love of art and warmer weather, caused Jim to move from his native New York to Georgia and then Tennessee where he now lives near the Pocahontas community. To see more of his work, go to www.jimscedargallery.com.

To get to Jim's gallery, take Highway 53 South about 10 miles to Pocahontas Road. Then go about five miles to the Browntown Church of Christ sign on the left. Go left 1.4 miles and you have arrived. It's best to call before you come at 615-765-5800.

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COURIER SPOTLIGHT
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