The Wood Artist: Creating Art Through Wood
Book / 2018Norman Pirollo, wood artist at Pirollo Design, describes his transition from furniture designer + maker to wood artist. The journey involved philosophical decisions about the type of work to quench his creative urges. Available through www.woodskills.com
Learn more about Norman
- About
Norman Pirollo is a furniture designer + maker and woodworking educator based in Ottawa, Ontario. Through Refined Edge Design and Pirollo Design, he creates contemporary styled furniture and sculpture using traditional woodworking processes and techniques. With origins in hi-tech, he currently pursues the design and creation of one of a kind furniture. Along with a cabinetmaking and furniture making education, studies were later pursued at a fine woodworking school. Norman enjoys challenging himself with new techniques and processes. His furniture studio combines both hand and power tools with an emphasis on hand tools. The aesthetic he prefers is a contemporary one of clean, simple lines with honest workmanship. The furniture designs evolve from a series of sketches and drawings with a final rendering that closely resembles the furniture piece.
His furniture has been featured in: Studio Furniture: Today’s Leading Woodworkers, Wood Art Today 2, 500 Cabinets, Rooted, Fine Woodworking Magazine, international magazines and nominated for NICHE Award finalist. His published books include“Quiet Woodworking: In An Unquiet World”, “Woodworking: From Design To Making”,“Start Your Own Woodworking Business”,“From Hi-Tech to Lo-Tech: A Woodworker’s Journey”,“The Wood Artist: Creating Art Through Wood”, “Start Woodworking” and “Hand Tool Woodworking”. Norman currently operates a furniture making studio in a country setting outside Ottawa, Ontario where he develops online woodworking courses and designs and creates contemporary-styled furniture. Through www.woodskills.com, Norman embraces an educator role in disseminating woodworking related courses, classes, live webinars and books.
- Region
- Ottawa, ON
- Website
- www.refinededge.com
- Media
- Wood
- Professional Status
- Furniture designer maker, woodworking educator
Portfolio
Display Cabinet (Zebrano, Maple)
Maple, Zebrano, Beech, Metal / 2023 42 in. H, 18 in. W, 11 in. DDisplay cabinet with a Zebrano veneered, book matched doors. Asymmetric drawer layout. Metal legs with maple interior and feet. Dovetailed drawer fronts of European Beech. Contemporary design intended primarily to exhibit art and decorative objects.
Woodworking: From Design To Making
Book / 2019Decades of furniture making combine with furniture design in this new and refreshing take on woodworking. In addition to detailed furniture making techniques, the book delves into the process behind furniture design. Available through www.woodskills.com
Display Cabinet (Ash, Maple)
Ash, Maple, Holly, Metal / 2023 42 in. H, 18 in. W, 11 in. DDisplay cabinet with a sliding tambour-styled door. Asymmetric drawer layout. Metal legs with maple interior and feet. Dovetailed drawer fronts of Holly. Primarily to exhibit art and decorative objects.
Spalted Cabinet
Maple, Spalted Maple, Black Limba, Alaska Cedar / 2020 50 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DSolid maple display cabinet. Black Limba drawers, Spalted Maple drawer pulls. Tapered legs. Door panels are veneered Spalted Maple. Interior and back panel inserts Alaska Cedar and Maple. Black Limba drawer fronts and stand.
Spectrum
Quilted Maple, Dye Infused / 2016 24 in. H, 12 in. W, 2.75 in. DUniquely designed wall art in a three dimensional contemporary styling. Highly figured quilted maple evokes a unique depiction. The wall art is raised and set in a black frame to provide three dimensionality and depth. All surfaces are hand planed and scraped
Display Cabinet (Ash, Pau Amarello)
White Ash, Maple, Holly, Pau Amarello / 2023 44 in. H, 18 in. W, 11.5 in. DAsh display cabinet with Pau Amarello sliding tambour-styled door. Asymmetric drawer layout. Wood legs in a unique splayed configuration. Maple interior drawer compartments. Dovetailed drawer fronts of Holly. To exhibit art and decorative objects.
Spalted Maple Cabinet
Spalted maple, maple, cherry / 2023 47 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DMaple display cabinet. Cherry drawer fronts, maple pulls. Unique splayed stand design to meet criteria of stability in a small footprint. Spalted Maple door panels. Asymmetric drawer layout. Maple stand.
Spring Bulrush
Figured maple, dye infused / 2016 29 in. H, 14 in. W, 2.25 in. DUniquely designed wall art in a three dimensional contemporary styling. Highly figured maple evokes a unique depiction. The wall art is raised and set in a platinum frame to provide three dimensionality and depth. All surfaces are hand planed and scraped.
Wishbone Hall Table
Bloodwood, maple, cocobolo, metal / 2011 35 in. H, 43 in. W, 10 in. DUniquely designed console table with curved, wishbone shaped legs. Shaped, curved maple legs with cocobolo feet. Metal is incorporated into the design. The curved top is figured bloodwood and metal components contrast with the deep bloodwood.
Display Cabinet (Ash, Maple)
Ash, Maple, Holly, Metal / 2023 42 in. H, 18 in. W, 11 in. DDisplay cabinet with a sliding tambour-styled door. Asymmetric drawer layout. Metal legs with maple interior and feet. Dovetailed drawer fronts of Holly. Primarily to exhibit art and decorative objects.
Standing Tall
Maple, Cherry, Cocobolo / 2013 55 in. X 15 in. X 12 in.Cherry display cabinet with solid quartersawn cherry door panels. Hinges are of solid brass and both the the door and carved drawer pulls are of contrasting cocobolo. Interior drawers are solid cherry and alder with dovetail construction.
aXial Lounge Chair
Birch, Italian Leather / 2016 38 in. H × 27 in. D × 22 in. WContemporary styled hi-back lounge chair features a unique X‑pattern frame. The innovative X‑pattern frame eliminates the need for rails and stretchers creating a modern aesthetic in a refined, sleek appearance. The Canadian designed + handcrafted aXial lounge
Twin Plumes
European Beech, Mahogany, Cocobolo / 2012 55in. H, 26 in. W, 13.5 in. DEuropean beech display cabinet with book matched doors, mahogany drawers,and two-tone cocobolo door and drawer pulls. Solid brass knife hinges. The cabinet has a large component of hand work and fitting involved.
On Fire I
Figured Maple Veneers, Rosewood / 2016 38 in. H, 10 in. W, 8 in. DUniquely designed sculpture in a three dimensional contemporary style. This organic sculpture depicts a rising flame and is composed of highly figured maple veneers with a rosewood base. Finished with French Polish process.
The Wood Artist: Creating Art Through Wood
Book / 2018Norman Pirollo, wood artist at Pirollo Design, describes his transition from furniture designer + maker to wood artist. The journey involved philosophical decisions about the type of work to quench his creative urges. Available through www.woodskills.com
Tambour Display Cabinet
Maple, Pau Amarello, Cherry / 2023 47 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DMaple display cabinet with tambour styled doors. Cherry drawer fronts, maple pulls. Unique splayed stand provides stability in a compact footprint. Tambour styled doors of deep yellow Pau Amarello for contrast. Asymmetric drawer layout. Maple stand.
Kumiko Cabinet
Cherry, Basswood, Maple, cocobolo / 2019 56.5in. H, 18.5 in. W, 13 in. DStandalone cherry and maple display cabinet with Kumiko asa-no-ha motif element in doors to draw light both in and out and to provide an Oriental aesthetic. Inlay pattern in lower rail to enhance the aesthetic.
Tambour Cabinet
Maple, Black Limba, Alaska Cedar / 2020 50 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DMaple display cabinet with a tambour door aesthetic. Tapered legs. Black Limba drawers fronts and stand. Maple and Black Limba door elements. Interior and back panel inserts of Alaska Cedar and Maple.
Chaotic Cabinet
Cocobolo, cherry, maple / 2017 56.5in. H, 18.5 in. W, 13 in. DAmbrosia maple display cabinet with book matched doors, cherry drawers, and two-tone cocobolo door and drawer pulls. The exterior of the cabinet is composed of hand cut ambrosia maple veneers whereas the interior is composed of hand cut soft maple veneers.
Kumiko Cabinet
Maple, Spalted Maple, Black Limba, Alaska Cedar, Basswood / 2020 50 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DMaple display cabinet. Black Limba drawers, Spalted Maple pulls. Tapered legs. Basswood Kumiko door panel inserts and maple doors with Kumiko asa-no-ha motif. Interior and back panel inserts Alaska Cedar and Maple. Black Limba drawer fronts and stand.
Kumiko Cabinet
Maple, Spalted Maple, Black Limba, Alaska Cedar, Basswood / 2020 50 in. H, 18 in. W, 12 in. DMaple display cabinet. Black Limba drawers, Spalted Maple pulls. Tapered legs. Basswood Kumiko door panel inserts and maple doors with Kumiko asa-no-ha motif. Interior and back panel inserts of Alaska Cedar and Maple. Black Limba drawer fronts and stand.