Jason Robards

My materials are simple – Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch, Black Thorn, White Thorn, Hazel, Willow, and a variety of fruit woods from my orchard. I carefully select the wood that is best suited to the chair I am making, searching along the hedges or in the woods until I find what I need. Then I begin the gentle process of working the wood using my hand tools.

Q&A

Artist Statement

I am a chair maker and greenwood furniture maker living and working in the heart of Ireland. My home looks out over ancient hedges and woodlands, which provide my workshop, the inspiration, and materials, for my craft.I try to create functional, beautiful works that will embellish your life and make you smile. My philosophy is simple – Less is More. Therefore, I endeavour to let the natural beauty of the wood guide my work.To create my work I use old hand tools, which have found their way to me over the years. These tools guide me in my work. Learning to use them has enhanced and developed my skill, and understanding of my craft.

What craft do you work with?

As a ‘Greenwood worker’ I make many different items, but my main focus is on chairs and tables. The latter interest was initially sparked by the RTÉ ‘Hands’ episode about John Surlis and his magnificent ‘Leitrim Chair’. I was captivated by its elegance and utilitarian simplicity. So, when I got an opportunity, I started making traditional Greenwood chairs myself, learning to use wonderful old hand tools and developing my craft. The satisfaction of using these tools is amazing; they enable me to really get close to the wood, to understand and to work with it, rather than fighting and bending it to my will. Today, I am still learning to work to its strengths and accentuate its beauty.

What inspires you to work with this craft?

Nothing gives me more satisfaction in life than creating something that is pleasing to the eye, satisfies the senses and serves a useful purpose. There is little in this world so useful to the weary soul than a chair that provides sanctuary from the demands of modern life. If I create a chair that appeals to the senses, provides comfort and support, and elicits a smile, I know my time has been well spent.My process allows me to get close to the wood, to see and feel the form, grain, textures, colours, and character. The intimacy of the work is reflected in the finished chair.

How do you start your creative process?

I wanted to move away from the traditional Greenwood-style chair and do something different with the medium, and that is what I am trying to do with my work currently. I usually make such chairs for my own satisfaction, or on a commission basis. My process is to go for a walk in the woods, look around and think. Sometimes I see shapes and textures that inspire me to integrate them into a piece of furniture. Sustainability is important to me so I use old hand tools and I coppice my materials. I bring the wood back to the workshop. Sometimes I sketch an idea, and other times I have a mental image that I work towards. Often the idea evolves as I work, which I always find interesting. I enjoy problem-solving and design elements the most.

How would you best describe your workspace and what tools could you not do without?

I have an outdoor workshop that overlooks the fields and nearby woods. This can be inspirational when I find I’m at an impasse with a piece I’m working on.

What have you learnt or the best advice you have received that you would like to share with fellow crafters?

When studying art my teacher told me to be bold and take bold strokes. A friend told me to aim for the moon and if I missed I would still land amongst the stars. A mentor once told me that I need to laugh every day even when things go wrong and to have fun.