Woodshop Wisdom: Elizabeth Frank on Books, Wolves, and What Makes a Piece Finished

Elizabeth Frank carves stories out of aspen wood she forages from the mountains, then brings them to life with acrylic and a love of vintage, found materials. Her work draws on folk art traditions and reads as playful at first glance, but stay with it and the layers of narrative start to surface. Themes of migration, animal kinship, and elaborate headdresses run through her ongoing series, shaped as much by memoirs and audiobooks as by her woodshop.

What have you been listening to, watching or reading recently that has caught your imagination?

I listen to a lot audiobooks while I’m in my studio, especially when I’m in my woodshop using loud power tools. My taste is really varied so here are a few books that have inspired me recently.

Solito by Javier Zamora-a memoir of the author’s treachorous journey as a child from El Salvador to immigrate to the United States. Solito really informed and expanded my thinking about my ongoing series called Migration.

My Life with Wolves by Robert McIntyre-another memoir about that author’s experiences working with wolves in Yellowstone. This was really helpful in expanding my understanding of animals and what I believe are their unique cultures and I’m carry this knowledge with me as i create new works in my series Animal Spirits.

And right now I’m listening to The Astral Library by Kate Quinn which is just a fun, fantastical romp in an astral library. I love good storytelling in all its forms!

Music wise I’ve been listening to Sierra Ferrell and also following her on Instagram @sierraelizabethferrell Not only do I love her alt country music but her costumes are fab. I’ve been doing a series of women with unusual headdresses for a few years and love looking at all forms of costume.

What’s something about your work that people often notice straight away?

It’s influenced folk art and can appear light hearted but there are also layers to the narratives when you spend time looking.

What are the mediums that you love to use the most and why? Any favorite brands or tools?

I love aspen wood. That is the wood that I forage for in the mountains, then dry and carve. My favorite of my woodworking tools is my Foredom TX flexible shaft carving tool. I also love painting my carvings with acrylic. My go to paint is from Novacolor. I especially love their iridescent colors. And lastly I’m a collector of vintage and found materials. Lately I’ve been drawn to vintage hardware of all sorts.

When does a piece feel finished to you, and do you trust that feeling?

Sometimes I start a piece with a definite narrative intended and in the process I’m lead down a rabbit hole and a new story emerges. When I feel the story of the work has been told it is finished.