Puzzles Like No Others

January was National Puzzle Month and what better way to celebrate than with a one-of-a-kind puzzle sculpture by father and son artists Peter and Genesis Chapman. A professional woodworker/artisan for more than 50 years, Peter Chapman started as a furniture maker in the 1970s. As a side gig he would sell his work at craft fairs, which led him to create smaller wood pieces, and the puzzle sculptures evolved from that.

Animals proved to be a popular and very salable subject matter, so animal puzzle sculptures emerged as Chapman's signature product. The construction was based on the standard jigsaw design of interlocking shapes that fit together, but the actual result was much more. "I wanted to make something flexible, but that wouldn't fall apart as most puzzles do," Chapman recalled. By cutting into the wood from alternating sides, and carefully overlapping those cuts, he got the sizes and shapes he wanted. "You learn where you need to go and where you can't go," he said. Starting with the snake, which is the simplest animal shape, Chapman has evolved hundreds of different animals in his repertoire. There are puzzles to fit every age, interest and skill level--ranging from six to 60 or more pieces. Many of the puzzles even have parts, e.g. wings or legs that move, which brings another level of problem solving to the creative process.

Chapman's trial and error "Edisonian" approach has certainly worked for many creatives-- whether for honing their craft or inventing the Next Big Thing. And for the adventurous puzzler, it can be just the ticket to figuring out how the pieces go together. Puzzler beware though, while the Chapman sculpture may look elegantly simple, the actual technique of creating one involves a "very specialized and intricate series of bandsaw cuts" noted Genesis Chapman. Definitely not for the cookie cutter mindset! To sum it up, "you're not just designing the animal--you're designing the process," said Peter.

Learning the craft first from his father, Genesis has evolved his own approach through experimentation with the medium and the seemingly infinite possibilities of making it work. "You learn something new with every puzzle sculpture," Genesis stated with the resolve of someone who is not afraid of unknown turf in the art of puzzle-making. He now focuses more on creating custom, one-of-a-kind puzzle sculptures craved by collectors, while Peter continues to work on the ever popular animal puzzles favored by galleries and wholesale customers. Both Chapmans use native as well as exotic woods to realize their creations. The choice of which depends on what grain and color best fit the form and style of the animal.

Today the Chapmans are represented in galleries across the country in almost every state as well as internationally. Their puzzles speak a universal language that resonates with people, regardless of where they're from or where they're going. But like the puzzles themselves, everyone's experience of them will be different. Some people just want something they can admire on their desk and never touch. But Chapman encourages people to get involved with the puzzles. "You miss out on the adventure if you don't take the puzzle apart," he said. And, there's a payoff for those who pursue the adventure--a prize inside or even another puzzle inside the puzzle! And for Peter and Genesis, each puzzle leads to a new adventure in the art of figuring things out.

You can learn more about Peter and Genesis Chapman and the art of puzzle sculptures by visiting: https://chapmanpuzzles.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/gene...