One of my favorite things to do as an artist is sharing my art with eager students from around the world.  I've been privileged to teach at places like the John C. Campbell Folk School, Arrowmont and a host of basketry conferences and conventions around the country but nothing is more fun to me than teaching students in my studio in Asheville's River Arts District.

As a professional artist, it's easy to take for granted the blessing of having a spacious studio in one of the country's largest and most vibrant working artist communities.  Over the years, my students have told me that getting to take a class in my studio while surrounded my the huge amount of locally harvested natural materials like vines, bark and branches is both inspiring and exciting!

In 2016, I'm excited to offer 5 basket weaving classes at my studio teaching various things from grapevine harvesting to vine basket making.  Each class is a 2-day workshop held from 10am-4pm with a break for lunch and every student will return home with 1-2 completed baskets, depending on the class.

One of the questions I get a lot is "Can I take one of your basketry classes even if I've never woven a basket (or haven't woven in a long time.... or have never woven natural materials)?" The answer is a resounding "yes"! Each of my classes are appropriate for beginners but are also rewarding for experienced makers as well.  If you're new to basketry, there's no need to be nervous... you'll have a blast! And, if you're an experienced maker don't worry, I can help you hone your skills and challenge you throughout the class as you're comfortable.

Here's the list of basket weaving classes I'm offering in Asheville in 2016:

• Twining with Daylily, Iris and Cattails - May 6-7, 2016
• Bark Harvesting & Basketry - June 3-4, 2016
• Sculptural Twining with Kudzu, Bark & Metal - August 12-13, 2016
• Open Twining with Vines & Bark - September 9-10, 2016
• Kudzu Harvesting & Basketry - December 2-3, 2016

For more information on each basket weaving class and to register online, please visit my basket weaving classes page.  Classes fill quickly, so please register soon!  

This special collection started as an idea in the mind of my clients. They loved all the styles of sculptural baskets that I create, but couldn't decide on one particular style for a new entry table in their Cashiers, North Carolina mountain home.  Our solution was to create a collection of various styles that would work together in this beautiful home.

A large part of the aesthetic I create in my basketry work is rooted in nests and how natural forms work together to exist in harmony.  Although very contemporary, this collection most definitely pays homage to it's rustic, nested origins.  From left to right, I created a random weave basket from kudzu and grapevine, an iris foliage basket, a kudzu pod-style basket surrounded in honeysuckle vines, a bark and copper wire freeform basket in the center, a kudzu and pine-petal basket and then a couple of smaller baskets in the rear all nested in and around contorted filbert branches, commonly known as "Henry Lauder's Walking Stick".  

So, the moral of this story is if you can't choose just one style of sculptural baskets for your home, choose them all!  Incidentally, this home has a beautiful fireplace mantel sculpture I did for them last year as well as another single sculptural basket.  

I'd love to create a collection like this for your home, too!

Well, there's a first time for everything! A dear friend of mine emailed me back in November asking if I might be willing to take on a bit of a unique project for her as a surprise for her husband and a feature in their mountain house.  Her husband is a big hunter - pheasant, turkey, deer, elk, etc - and had created a candelabra for their fireplace mantel using a large, beautiful elk antler.  My client wanted me to take it up a notch and so she send me the antler candelabra along with some feathers  and wasp nests they had collected over the years. Her request: make something beautiful!  The result is a very unique, collaborative fireplace mantel sculpture using my normal materials - mountain laurel branches, copper leaves, vines and bark - along with the non-traditional materials of the elk antler and feathers.  

SHH! This one is going to be a surprise for Christmas! I can't wait to hear the reaction to the new piece once her husband sees it! #fingerscrossed

Thanks to the fine folks over at TheNiceNiche.com for featuring me this December on their blog.  The website is focused on featuring artists, small businesses and their trades in short, visual essays.  

Here's the link to my feature, enjoy: 
​http://www.theniceniche.com/this-week/matt-tommey-basketry-artist 

My love affair with copper started many years ago when I started adding a simple, polished copper kudzu leaf to my traditional baskets.  It was a unique way to  put a signature on a my work and gave me an excuse to work with this incredibly malleable material.  Over the years I moved away from my copper kudzu leaves and started weaving with copper as a way to use the material in more interesting ways.  But now, leaves seem to have my heart again!

Inherent in my work is this deep desire to communicate the... well, the nature of nature. What I mean is, I really what you to think "wow, did this beautiful piece actually grow out of the earth?"  I've often said "Every Basket Begins with a Walk in the Woods" and it's really true, not only from a material acquisition standpoint but also an inspiration standpoint.  I love seeing cones, nests, pods, leaves, branches and river rocks as they all interact in nature and supernaturally all that goes into my creative well. When I get back to the studio, my art is the natural result of a supernatural experience.

This latest work I'm doing with copper is very exciting for me because it feels like I'm creating pieces that are so closely intertwined with nature.  I've developed a new leaf design - this fern stem - and I've started electroplating some actual organic material (electroplating is a jewelry technique for plating gold, silver, platinum, etc) with copper as well.  Think about that... A literal pine cone, seed pod or leaf covered completely in copper.  WOW!  Right now, the options seem endless and I'm so happy to be moving down this creative path.  I hope you enjoy seeing the results!

Most of the time, I'm working in luxury mountain homes here in Western North Carolina, but because of the incredible tourism industry here in Asheville and great hotels like the Omni Grove Park Inn I'm privileged to have my work travel to many different places around the country.  Such is the case with this beautiful tabletop centerpiece.

Recently, this client was on vacation at the Omni Grove Park Inn here in Asheville and saw my work displayed both there and at the Grovewood Gallery.  They loved how this piece incorporated natural materials into their modern rustic decor. Seeing my work intrigued her enough to search me out in the River Arts District and commission a piece for a recently renovated space in her home.  

This tabletop centerpiece is about 42" x 18"x10" and will live on a rustic farm table below a Chihuly-like chandelier.  It's the perfect addition to this rustic modern decor!

Each year, our River Arts District Artist association hosts a Spring and Fall Studio Stroll.  Over 180 artists in 25 studio buildings open their studios to the public for an incredible of art, sharing and shopping.  Even though many artists like me are open all year round, the studio stroll creates an opportunity to share our work with thousands of visitors and locals alike.

This year, a local couple from North Asheville came in the studio looking for one of my wall hangings for an area in their kitchen / breakfast room.  As you can see in the picture above, I'm glad to report they found a piece that fit the bill  The piece they chose was a beautiful piece of my branch art featuring 5 kudzu and  bark baskets nested in a unique Henry Lauder Walkingstick branch.   The baskets were covered in encaustic wax and brought a beautiful pop of color and whimsey to this traditional space.  I'm so glad it worked and I know they will enjoy this piece for years to come!  In fact, as I was hanging the piece this morning my client said "I can't wait for the girls I go walking with every morning to come over and see this new piece!"  Sounds like it's time for a coffee date!

Find out more about how I can create a beautiful piece like this for your home.

"When I first saw your work at the American Craft Council Show in Atlanta this past March, I just knew this was what I wanted in our home."  Well, if that doesn't make you feel great, I'm not sure what will!  Today, that's what my client told me as I was hanging their new wall hanging in their home located in the serene mountain setting of Anderson Creek Retreat in Ellijay, Georgia.

I did indeed meet this couple in Atlanta at the ACC show back in March 2015.  After a few emails, I arranged for a home visit to see the space and talk about possibilities.  That was fun!  "This house has been in the making for over 20 years... in our dreams" they said.  Only just finished this summer, the home is a testament to high-end luxury building in a rustic modern aesthetic.  In short, it looks like it's a 150 year old farm house that's always been right there with the simple addition of lots technological conveniences and modern amenities.

A couple of the things that were important to this client were simplicity and connection with the land.  It's on that foundation that I began the design process.  I visited the home once again this fall and harvested the mountain laurel branches, bird nest and wasp nest from their property. We took the raw branch inside, talk about ideas and then I was off to the studio to do what I do best... create.

After a brief sketching session, I started weaving and wa-la, the piece was born.  I used the decor of the great room for color inspiration including creams, greens, turquoise, blue and dark walnut.  I was very pleased with the outcome and so were my clients!

Today was installation day and for me, that's the most fun!  I absolutely love connecting with me client, seeing them excited and enjoying this special piece I've created hanging in it's new home.  If you're considering a piece like this for your home, please contact me for a consultation.  I'd love to dream a little with you and create something special for your home.

It's always a good thing to Google yourself from time to time because you never know what you're going to find.  Luckily this time, I found a wonderful feature article about my work on DailyArtMuse.com, a leading blog touted as "a curated collection of contemporary fine art."  Thanks DailyArtMuse!  Here's the link to the article.

This weekend I have the pleasure of teaching a short workshop for 6 students at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts.  During the weekend, we'll go out and harvest materials from the local area, learn to prepare those materials and then make some incredible sculptural pieces.  For many students, this will be the first time - or first time in a long time - that they've made a basket, so i'm honored to be able to introduce them - again - to the incredible world of basketry.

​For more about my basket weaving classes, you can check out this page.  For more about Arrowmont, click here. I hope you'll join me at my studio in 2016 for a workshop in Asheville, NC's River Arts District!