Commissioned watch box which I was given full liberty in design and wood selection. This box has 15 different woods used to create a artistic work which has a "Old Word/Black Forest" feel. A type of work which would have been presented to a emperor in past time. Inlayed green abalone and mother of pearl are also incorporated. Crushed pearl in ebony artwork of a great horned owl "the watch guardian" resides on the interior of the lid. The box has the best hardware made and is completely lockable. Figured woods include quilted big leaf maple, Hawaiian Koa and Mango, claro walnut, bocote and mahogany. The trees which anchor the 4 corners were hand carved from claro walnut.
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Creative, Inspired wood art from Mark Alan Artisan Woods. Now specializing in "Custom Artisan Engagement Ring Boxes"
"Master Wood Artisan" Mark A. Porter resides in White Bluff, TN. His art has found homes in more than 25 US States and 8 Countries throughout the world. "Most of my work is a one of a kind original never to be duplicated. I use different woods ranging from reclaimed
barnwood to exotic burls. I design and create products that look and feel custom made. Some of my work is designed to be functional. Others are purely artistic. Browse my portfolio to get a feel of the time and passion I put into my art. Olympian Eric Liddell I think best worded it in 1924. He said: "I know God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. When I run I feel His pleasure."
When I become immersed in my art, I to can feel His pleasure. I hope my work brings a smile to your face!
Due to work loads I am only accepting "Custom Engagement Ring Boxes" by commission at this time. Please let me know if you would like for me to create a one of a kind ring box for you.
Thank You!
Mark
Amanda Cook
For Barnwood TraysThe wooden serving tray is exactly what I wanted. Beautiful and rustic. Would definitely buy from him again.
Marcy Pierson
For Barnwood TraysThe tray I ordered was beautiful and I will definitely order from them again.
Lynn Flynn
For Barnwood TraysThe tray is exactly what I wanted and Mark was professional , timely with the end product and communication and sent pictures too. I would recommend him highly and use again. Great experience!
David Weitzer
For Engagement Ring Box "Rabbit Box"I would definitely recommend Mark Alan Artisan Woods to anyone looking for a high quality product and a smooth experience on this site. Everything went great... he made me a custom ring box for an engagement ring I will be giving my girlfriend shortly. My schedule was somewhat tight but he accommodated it and shipped the box securely. When I opened the package I was overjoyed to find that it was EXACTLY what I had been looking for. Thank you!
Jan Beltz
For Barnwood TraysThis is my second time working with Mark. I highly recommend him. The barnwood trays are beautiful.
Penny Sirjane
For Barnwood TraysThis tray is absolutely stunning!!!! I will forever cherish it!
John Eklund
For Barnwood TraysTray looked awesome. With the cast iron handles it really took it back to 150 years ago. Thanks, John
Jan Beltz
For Barnwood TraysMark is great to work with. He responds quickly to inquiries. Just received my custom tray today and love it! It is exactly what I was looking for. The craftsmanship is excellent. I highly recommend Mark.
Joseph McKeaney
For Engagement Ring BoxMark is unbelievable. Creates one of a kind masterpieces. I was ordering an engagement ring box for my girlfriend and gave Mark a few details about her. The idea he came up with for a finished product was perfect. Amazing communication including status updates and pictures as well as a complete description of the woods and materials used, and instructions on operating the custom latches to secure the box closed. He finished the project on time and arrived in the box protected and packed perfectly.
Cortney Smith
For Artisan Jewelry Box Mahogany & Walnut BurlMark was wonderful to work with! He was very clear with how long it would take and he delivered exactly when he said he would. The custom watch box he produced is absolutely gorgeous. The wood is beautiful and rich, and the compartments are perfectly proportioned and useful. I absolutely recommend Mark for any custom woodwork and I hope to work with him again!
Gareth Foulkes
For Engagement ring boxMatthew Gallion
For Engagement Ring Box "Rabbit Box"Mark listened to my ideas and he ran with them. The final product was both beautiful and perfectly detailed and I know that my future fiancé will love her engagement ring box. I couldn't be happier.
Brian Wolf
For Engagement Ring BoxI can't recommend Mark enough, as the 5-star rating would indicate. Mark was a joy to work with. I'd seen a picture of a key-themed engagement ring box he'd made for another couple, and I contacted him for a quote. I submitted a sketch of an idea I had, and he took it above and beyond what I'd imagined. I told him when I wanted to pop the question, and he made sure I had the box in plenty of time. For a custom box, his lead time was very reasonable. The box wasn't 'cheap', but the value is substantial. It is of heirloom quality, a work of art, and will make a wonderful, sentimental conversation piece. If I get turned down, it won't be because the box wasn't awesome.
ben
For small jewelry boxMark did an excellent job building my jewelry box for my girlfriend, it was cool how he added his artistic touch. Definitely worth the money it's a one of a kind. The whole process was fun he sent plenty of updates and pictures.Thank you so much.
Lucas
For Rabbit engagement Ring boxI received the box on time, and of course I like it! perhaps the best craftsmanship of any wooden object I have ever received, live updates and custom tailored upon request; I have no complaints.
Allyson
For Barnwood TraysI love the tray that Mark built for me! I contacted him around Thanksgiving and heard back in just a few hours. I explained what I wanted (based on photos he had online) and then asked a few questions, as well. He had an estimate/proposal to me within a day. I always had a response before I expected to hear back! Also, with the holiday season approaching, I didn't expect to get my project before Christmas, but on the day we moved in to our new house, the package arrived! It was 10 days earlier than promised. I can't say enough good about the ease of communication and completion of the transaction. And the best part of all is that I just love the tray he made & signed for me. It is a piece of art that sits on my kitchen island. It is solidly built and a perfectly rustic addition to my new home that I enjoy and receive compliments on frequently.
Alisa Iantosca
For Barnwood TraysA+ all around. I've never used this website before and was pleasantly surprised by how quickly Mark responded to my request as well as the fact that I actually got to see progress photos. It was so interesting! The customized tray that I ordered as a wedding gift was created and delivered to my doorstep very quickly with complete communication from Mark the whole time. I would definitely recommend him and his work - very true to the photos and seem to be high quality.
Dave Levine
For Wedding Gift! Custom Cutting BoardMark was such a pleasure to work with. I told him about a wedding gift I wanted to make and he jumped right on it without hesitation. He clearly has a passion for delivering quality work that will make a large impact in peoples lives. Once Mark got going, he asked for complete artistic control. Without hesitation I let him run with it only providing him with a handful of pictures to help spark his creative. With in a very short time the project was complete and shipped to the couple. This beats a pair of steak knives any day of the week! I would highly recommend Mark for anything and will surely go to him again in the future.
Matthew Stiltner
For Custom engadgement ring/wedding ring boxMark made for me a custom engagement ring box made of Cocobolo and African Blackwood. I contacted him with a short deadline of only about a month to get this done and he not only managed to finish the project and get it to me in time, but did it VERY well. The ring box is beautiful and shows the craftsmanship of an expert. I would highly reccomend Mark to anyone without hesitation.
Jenean Eberhardt
For Wood signage for Main St businessNo complaints! From start to finish- great and timely communication, complete with photos and a timeline. I let Mark have creative control with this project. He knows what he is doing and clearly loves what he does!
Matt
For Artisan Cutting BoardsMark is fantastic and his work is absolutely beautiful! His communicates frequently and timely, and provided consistent updates to our project with photos. The quality of his work is amazing and truly unique. He is very attentive to any requests I made regarding the style of the project, but I would have complete faith to let him run wild with your idea, as he is truly a great craftsman. I cannot recommend Mark highly enough!
kathy fields
For The Tardis ring box for mens size 11 bandMark is an exceptional craftsman; he was constantly asking questions about the fine details of my custom design and sending weekly updates for the project. In just 4 weeks Mark built a Tardis, and I think he actually had fun building it! I wanted a creative way to display a wedding band, and a gift for my future Husband that could stand the test of time. Not only did he build it with a mixture fine-grained cut and carved hard woods, but he incorporated a crystal and led lights for the center of my time machine. I couldn't be happier with the results, and I plan on utilizing Mark Alan Artisan Woods for my future superior wood projects.
Justin
For Glove Box HumidorMark was great to work with. I had requested a very odd project and it required a good amount of back and forth communication to get it right. I further complicated the job because he was unable to see where the finish product was going to go, but that didn't stop him from making sure every detail was covered. He as very proactive and detail oriented, which was crucial for the success of this project. The finished product was more than I could have hoped for. I look forward to working with Mark on some additional humidors in the near future! Thank you!!
Karen Blair
For Skeleton Key Ring BoxI am astonished by the workmanship and creativity that Mark has displayed in this project. The final product was more than I could have ever imagined. I posted a request for a ring box that would incorporate the idea of a skeleton key. In my head, I imagined someone would produce a rectangular wooden box with a carved skeleton key on top. What I got was completely different and a million times better. Mark was very enthusiastic right from the beginning and his enthusiasm and confidence turned into a one of a kind ring box that could not be more perfect. Instead of simply placing the image of a key on the box, he designed the box to look like a skeleton key, with the head of the key housing the ring. The box opens in an ingenious way, with even a bit of a "secret" key to it! The hand carving on top is beautiful and the woods that he chose to work with are gorgeous. Mark was great to communicate with throughout the project and I would highly recommend him to anyone. I noticed that someone else posted a comment about his "enthusiasm" in a less positive light. I wouldn't let that stop you from choosing Mark - I believe it was his enthusiasm that made this project come to life in the way that it did. It is great to work with someone who is as excited to be creating your project as you are to be having it made! Mark has created a special keepsake that will be a part of our lives forever and I could not be more grateful!
Lori
For Carved Wall Art Plaque with Text and CrossMark was among the first to give a proposal to my project. He was willing to work with me on the budget I had set, actually lowering his original proposal figure. He was a great communicator, offering design ideas with sketches. I had a specific design, however, that I wanted to be made into a plaque. Once this design was fine-tuned, Mark went to work, creating the board for my 16" plaque. The next week he did the carving, then sent me photos of the finished project. He completed the project ahead of time! I was very happy with the end result. My daughter and husband will have a unique gift that will remind them of the song they sang on their wedding day.
A guide to the best items from the best makers and the stories behind them.