Malcolm Wall
carves signs in his studio in the Tottenham area, just
north of the city of Toronto in Canada. He is now on his third career,
after 22 years in the Canadian Navy and a further 14 in the Canadian Public
Service where he worked as a naval architect in charge of shipbuilding
projects. Bubbling in the background during his first two careers was an
enduring fascination with wood. He has always enjoyed designing and creating
projects in this gorgeous and treasured material. The woods he uses range
from ash, butternut, teak, mahogany and maple to fruitwoods such as cherry.
Malcolm has designed and built furniture, but over the past ten years he
has developed a keen interest in signmaking. He most enjoys the challenges
of lettercarving: the interaction between lettering and other visual effects
can create signs which are striking, beautiful, and functional. And today,
wood signs are durable. Even in Canadas harsh climate these signs
will now last for many years, thanks to tough finishes. Malcolm uses traditional
tools, including double-bevelled carving chisels in British and Swiss steels.
He strongly believes that these signs, carved in the time-honoured artisanat
style, have an attraction which can never be matched by modern creations
in plastic and neon. By the way, in addition to signcarving, Malcolm also
plays the piano and twelve-string guitar, sings tenor, writes poetry, skis,
skates, and plays tennis and golf.
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