Earl Nesbitt combines his original designs with the highest quality materials and the finest craftsmanship to create one-of-a-kind pieces of collectible solid wood furniture. His style is defined by his use of colorful large slabs and rare highly figured woods combined with clean, elegant lines and an eye for detail. His pieces display solid wood so that its subtleties can be enjoyed: the way the grain moves through a sculpted piece, or the feel of a tabletop or a shaped edge. He combines traditional joinery techniques with innovations like using bent laminates and interlocking pegs to create unique design elements that are often functional as well as decorative. He uses traditional tools such as chisels, handsaws and hand planes, as well as modern power tools both large and small. He enjoy the challenges and wide variety of skills needed to create fine furniture from sketching and finding the perfect board to sculpting and finishing as well as the connections made with both customers and vendors. Throughout his career he has worked with home and business owners, interior designers, builders, architects, and galleries on many projects both large and small. He inventories and has access to a wide variety of woods, both domestic and exotic, including locally rescued wood, recycled/reclaimed lumber, and large slabs.
Currently In The Studio
He is very excited to introduce a new line of furniture using recycled/reclaimed wood. For many years he has showcased the beauty of rescued mesquite in his furniture. With each new piece he is constantly exploring new techniques to push the limits of solid wood design. Durability is of the utmost importance: his pieces are built to last for generations. This along with limited production ensures the collectibility of each piece which has his hand-carved signature and is archived to authenticate his original designs and ensure the customer's investment in the artwork. Some Background
He began his career studying fine furniture design and construction with Jeffrey Greene at his studio in New Hope, Pennsylvania in 1989. That award-winning apprenticship program, as well as the rich history of furniture-making in the New Hope area, including George Nakashima and other artists, contributes to his work as he showcases the beauty of natural wood in his furniture. After the apprenticeship, he worked for two high-end cabinetry/furniture shops in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and Bethesda, Maryland. His work from that time included a wide variety of items: from Park Avenue penthouse suite renovations; to pews at the Basilica of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.; to circa 1700s home restorations; as well as many private and commercial projects. During this time he was also designing and building his own fine furniture. In 1995 he opened his own studio now located in Santa Fe County, New Mexico specializing in unique pieces of fine furniture and cabinetry. Upcoming Exhibits
In 2012 he will be showcasing his new designs at the Architectural Digest Home Design Show in NYC, Dwell on Design in LA, and the One Of A Kind Show Chicago. 2011 exhibits included the American Craft Council Show in Baltimore, the Western Design Conference in Jackson Hole, and the One Of A Kind Show Chicago. His work has been shown in galleries around the country and can be found in a wide variety of locations, from ultra-modern homes and businesses to western-style haciendas.
