Sometimes a simple commission turns into a challenging yet satisfying project. For this golden world map, I started by visiting the wood workshop and getting two 3mm plywood boards, each 80 by 120 cm. I built a wooden frame for one of them and mounted it from the back with glue to make it feel like a stretched canvas. Then I painted the whole surface black using acrylic paint for a sleek background.
The next step was the most delicate and time-consuming part: drawing and cutting the map. I sketched the world map on the second board with a pencil, then carefully hand-cut each piece using a fretsaw. After hours of detailed work, I glued the wooden pieces onto the black background and painted them with gold acrylic paint to create a sharp contrast between the gold and black.
This piece was made for a customer who loved it so much that they asked for another one. For the next version, I’m planning to use laser cutting instead of doing it all by hand — it took quite a bit of time!
Also, while I was at the workshop, I came across a cat who kept me company. I even took a few pictures of it. Maybe one day, it’ll become the subject of another painting.
