Twyla Sasser: What's age got to do with it?
Twyla Sasser in the workshop, her happy place.
Twyla Sasser creates intarsia portraits of people and in particular likes to portray ‘wrinkly old faces that always have a story to tell.’ In her entry description for Maker of the Year, presented by Hare & Forbes, Twyla Sasser mentions that she is 78 and started woodworking at 64. We asked her: ‘what’s age got to do with it?’
Twyla, your portrait of Maggie is incredibly expressive. You’ve captured her character in the broad 'brushstrokes' of intarsia. Why did you mention your age in the description? Does age matter?
‘I don’t think it matters at all. That’s one of the reasons I entered. When I was young I wasn’t allowed to do these subjects. Girls did commerce and domestic science because you were only ever going to be a mother or a secretary. And I did have children and raised a family – and it was only then that someone said to me, why don’t you join our woodwork group.
Twyler Sasser’s Maggie, see more photos
What was your experience with the group like?
MAD (Make and Do) is a fabulous group. I think I was the third (woman) to join. and there are around 20 now. I went there and was shown what to do. I was 64 then and I was so excited to be accepted. This group is amazingly supportive. They don’t care what you are as long as you are having fun. You go there and you have to learn all the basics, every tool in the building and then when you’ve done that they say ‘well what do you want to do?’ I said, well actually I want to learn intarsia, which is like making a puzzle and putting it back together.
The Horses – made from a repurposed old door with stain used to achieve the different shades. Modelled after a quilting pattern by Laurel Burch.
How did you learn intarsia?
Another old fellow (in the group) started showing me how and from then on I learnt from YouTube and watching other people.
What stops women from learning and doing woodwork?
Thinking they’re not going to be able to do it. The generation now in their 20s think they can do anything, and that’s fantastic, but there’s still a lot of women out who are told they can’t do it or they’re just frightened of doing it. When I got married, if you got pregnant, you had to leave your job because obviously you couldn’t cope – and that was with a bank.
Sometimes I wish I had been allowed to do this in my 20s or 30s. Now it’s a hobby that I’m passionate about, but had I had the opportunity, I probably would have tried to be a full time woodworker and learn cabinetmaking.
Old faces are a favourite subject – they have a story to tell.
How and where did you learn your skills? Do you draw or paint as well?
I always wanted to do it. I knew I could do technical drawing because I wanted to be an architect when I was young. I had done quilting and leadlighting and to me what I do is like quilting in wood.
How much time do you spend on woodworking?
Oh…pretty much most of it. I have a wonderful partner who’s very supportive and when he’s out I’m usually in the garage making things. When I have the time I’m out there creating because it’s the thing I love to do. He’s my greatest encourager.
How do you start an intarsia piece?
With the faces, I go onto Pinterest and ask for pictures of old faces. Then I print them out in colour, then in black and white, and then I enlarge them to the size I want and go over the whole lot in black pen. I have my segments of wood ready. (The horses intarsia was made from an old door. I just put segments through a thicknesser and sanded it back.)
Once the wood is smooth, I cover it in masking tape and then glue my pattern onto it and start cutting pieces on my scroll saw. I always start from the middle and assemble my work outward. I don’t use numbers, that would only confuse me.
Twyla uses acrylic paints on some of her work and finds that nail polish works well for ‘eyes’.
How do you get the shadows?
These come from a lot of shaping, or sometimes I’ll find a darker piece of wood. Sometimes I’ll put small pieces of ply underneath to increase the depth.
What do you say to older people who might like to do woodworking?
Don’t ever be told you can’t do it because you’re old or whatever. This is my absolute passion. I love the smell of the wood, the handling of the wood, everything about it.
Tree lady in red cedar, jacaranda and camphor laurel. ‘The original artist who gave me permission to to create the work in wood is Krystina Webb, a talented NZ artist. If I know who the artist is I will always ask for permission to use their artwork – I think that’s terribly important.’
What’s the best thing about woodworking?
I say don’t think you’re too old, because it’s important to keep your brain active. To me woodwork is like a meditation. It completely absorbs me. I’m completely relaxed. It keeps my brain active and at 78 I think that’s really important.
Learn more about Make and Do at www.loganmadwoodcrafters.com
Entries for Maker of the Year, presented by Hare & Forbes, close 30 August. Information and entry is here www.makeroftheyear.com.au
