Thuja Wood Art

Thuja Wood ArtThuja Wood Art is a family business based on Pender Island, BC (Canada) focused on sustainable artistic woodworking through the use of reclaimed, recycled, and sustainably harvested old growth red cedar.  After studying visual arts and traveling the world, owner Colin Hamilton settled on the west coast of Canada where he grew up and began his journey into exploring the art of handsplit red cedar.  The idea for Thuja Wood Art came from the search for a creative outlet which would have a low environmental impact, and allow his family to live in a small rural community.

Family- 2013

Colin’s personal commitment to sustainability includes many courses he has taken in renewable energy through Solar Energy International, including solar, wind, and microhydro. He has designed and built a strawbale, timberframe home with his family, using earthen plasters, local straw bales, reclaimed timbers, and incorporating a living roof.   Colin also built a cob woodworking shop on the property, providing a beautiful and healthy space for storing wood and constructing his work.  His wife, Wendi, has been chronicling these building processes in a web log, Inspirational Village.  Colin runs his work truck on bio-diesel and straight vegetable oil in an effort to reduce emissions, and utilize waste vegetable oil by recycling it into fuel. This commitment has intentionally become a part of what makes Thuja Wood Art’s services unique and desirable.

Design Statement

fairy-throneRed cedar is always teaching me ways to work with it.  I base my designs on simplicity and function, with inspiration that comes from the trees, and nature, as the wood will show me what it wants to be.  My fathers’ influence as an Arts & Crafts style woodworker is also reflected in my work, along with my interest in traditional Japanese carpentry.  The artifacts I create fit naturally into their environment- growing as a tree would, from the ground up, well balanced in the center of strength and beauty.

Testimonials

What clients have to say about Thuja Wood Art:

read more

Colin Hamilton, Artist

Colin Hamilton is the founder, designer, and wood worker of Thuja Wood Art. When he’s not making functional pieces for people’s homes and properties, he’s making fine art sculpture.

read more

We have a small links page where we selectively link to small businesses and friends we support, usually Pender Island based.

Take me to the links

error: Content is protected !!