This artistic pair combines their talents to make unusual and exquisite woodwork pieces

The understanding and harmony in their relationship reflects in their work too. Pastor Earl Smokey James and his wife Pat work as a team to make exquisitely painted wooden handicrafts. Says Pat, who is an art teacher at Bishops School, "Painting has always been my hobby. While we were in France both of us made a lot of wooden artefacts. Then we came back and decided to pursue this hobby of ours. While Smokey does the woodwork, cutting and carving the pieces, I do the painting." Their creations include wooden plaques, made-to-order hand-painted furniture, partition screens with stained glass, urns, paper crafted fans and centerpieces for weddings with matching takeaways.

The duo use MDF (medium density fiber), acrylic sheets and stained glass. "I prefer to use MDF because it is hardy, easy to paint on and gives a good finish as compared to plywood," says Pat.

The painting on the fans as well as the urns is theme based, using motifs that are biblical, wildlife or nature related. Scenes from the lives of Jesus, David or Moses are depicted. Wildlife and nature lovers can pick up pieces with birds, animals, flowers, fruits and trees painted on them. "A customer can have the same theme continued on the fan and an urn to go with the interiors of the house. Our urns are also specially designed to double up as potted plant holders. The design of the urns can also be improvised to make lamps, using acrylic or glass," suggests Pat. Since the exquisite work is done by hand, it takes around two days for a fan to be completed. The urns require at least two weeks while it takes a minimum of a month for the screens. Pat says that having an eye for detail, being a good artist with plenty of patience and time are essential requisites for her craft. These unique pieces are priced according to the design and painting involved. A fan of a one-and-a-half-foot radius would cost Rs. 1,100 while a two-and-a-half-foot urn with hand painting on all four panels costs Rs. 2,500.

The couple's busy with the season's orders, and they're also planning another harmonious venture together. They will release a Christmas album titled "The greatest gift of all." Indeed Pat and Smokey James's work is a celebration of nature, love and faith.

Pat and Smokey James, Ruwa Handicrafts, Aturnagar C 4/24 Undri, Phone: 9225518835.

Khursheed Dinshaw