Kumiko Wall retailer Hanging, walnut and basswood, handpainted frame

This handcrafted kumiko panel is mounted in a custom built and hand retailer painted frame with fabric backing. All parts of the kumiko are 1/8" thick by 3/8" wide. The half lap joints for the grid of the kumiko are cut on a table saw. The infill pattern is cut with a chisel and jigs set to specific angles. I build the frames from local eastern white pine and paint them with milk paints, often layering a second color on top of the primary color. The frames are finished with 3 coats of tung oil and 2 coats of hand rubbed carnauba wax.

The grid in this piece is basswood. The infill pattern in this piece is a captured square in local walnut. In Japanese, the pattern is called yotsuba kaku-tsugi. The milk paints are pumpkin orange layered on top of barn red. The fabric is black courduroy.

Do you love this piece and want to learn how to make it yourself? I teach kumiko classes at Hammerstone: Carpentry for Women (www.hammerstoneschool.com). Come join us!