The Process of a Piece

The art and the craft come together as the peice evolves from original concept to a tray that is both beatiful and functional. Scroll down to see more examples of specific designs and hear about the process in Arthur Armour's own words.

Inspiration

Arthur Armour drew his inspiration from a wide range of sources: American History, culture, the art deco movement, nature, and his faith. In this example, he was even inspired by the milk-man. This design was always referred to as "The Pioneer". Click on the milk bottle for a link to the Cample's Pioneer Dairy Historical Website or on the Die to hear Arthur talk about it...

Examples

World Map

The World Map tray

Map Inspiration

Animals around the globe

Planning Sketch

The final drawing is made on tracing paper so the reverse image can be transferred to the steel before cutting begins.

The carved, steel die. Although this photo is mirrored to show it as it appears on the tray. The Die is cut exactly opposite the way it appears on the tray including reversed lettering.