Opposite Upcycle Aesthetic – Rustic Chess Piece

I would say that the opposite aesthetic to rustic, at least when it come to the application of my project, would be a modern aesthetic. More specifically, I think a darker type of modern aesthetic would be the thru antithesis of a hand carved wooden chess piece. I think that the main differences in the piece would have to come in the way that it is made. The imperfections that come with hand carving are a part of what helps fit the piece into the rustic aesthetic, so I think that to fit this new aesthetic, the piece would need to be carved using some kind of machinery. If I were to continue to use wood, I would want to pick a much darker species of wood than the cottonwood I am using, as I think darker colors like grays and blacks tend to feel more modern and less old timey than the lighter wood shades do. I would also want to simplify the design, using lots of round and smooth edges, but also less small details. I think that this will give the piece much more of a manufactured feel and make it feel even more opposite to my piece.

Figure 1: My sketch of what I think my opposite aesthetic would look like

Here is a look at my own sketch for what the opposite of my design would look like. While I am not the world’s greatest artist, I did my best to capture the things that I think would be important in the piece. I wanted lots of smooth curves, with minimal sharp edges, and think the dark gray or black color accentuates the aesthetic. Another key component that the sketch highlights is the shine. I would ideally want to finish this piece with a stain or varnish that makes the wood shiny, and very reflective. I needs to feel somewhat cold, as my rustic piece aims for a nice and warm vibe.

Figure 2: A modern metal chess set, that captures a similar aesthetic (The Chess Empire)

If I were able to change my material, I would want to make the piece out of metal. I think that metal fits into the modern aesthetic much easier than would does, even if a specific finishing process is used. These pieces look very cold and unnatural which is the exact contrast I would want form my hand made piece. I like the simplicity of the pieces, and the curves capture the same manufactured look that I would want. Below is a reference image I used in carving my own piece, and I think it is easy to see how these different styles contrast.

Figure 3: A reference image I used as inspiration for my own carving (Woodcrafter’s Corner)

References:

The Stamford Series Solid…