"V" by Dominique James on Zatista.com

Have you ever looked at wood grain? I mean really looked at it? It’s gorgeous – blond, amber, molasses and faint red hues all blending together. Each and every piece of wood is really a composition in and of itself, complete with depth and compelling angular elements.

Spellbound by April Henderlong zatista.com

I’m jealous of artists with an eye for the stuff, they find such creative ways to utilize it in their work. Finding good grain is a talent in itself, never mind being able to incorporate it into a great piece of art. It’s symbiosis at its best: the art accents the wood, the wood accents the art. There are so many possibilities!

"Crosscut" by Arthur Davis on Zatista.com

Photographers just have to have the eye. There’s a lot of wood out there, and not all of it’s magical. However, people like Arthur Davis fortunately have a knack for finding the right piece at the right time.

"Horizontal Perch" by Laura Browning on Zatista.com

Some painters are bold enough to sluff off the 70’s-induced stigma of painted wood grain. Laura Browning created a very natural looking background in this piece – awesome attention to detail!

"The Sprinkler" from Kasia Kay Art Projects Gallery on Zatista.com

Tool Shed – Planers by Justin Wheeler zatista.com

Wood grain also has amazing sculptural elements. I might even admit to being a little bit obsessed with kitschy road-side chainsaw art if interrogated sufficiently.

It was this photo by Justin Wheeler that made me realize I’m most jealous of my friend Peter. He’s an artist and a carpenter, and he’s recently turned his eye, aesthetic, and skills into a little furniture business. He makes farm tables and desks out of wood he salvages from old barns.

Image: StructureDesignandBuild.com

He’s got and eye for grain and patina – the natural weathering process that gives wood even more character. He somehow manages to put boards together to form compositions out of the grain and even old nail holes.

Image: StructureDesignandBuild.com

Enjoy more furniture here, and be sure to check out art by other “grain elevaters” here on Zatista. Just type in “wood’ in the search field.