About the Artist
Justin Miles
Well Hi there! I’m Justin Miles, my artist name is ‘Justystarz’.
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I am a visual artist messing about with woodworking, kinetic sculpture, automata (which I call crankers), and traditional Japanese karakuri (wooden automata) craft. I can paint, sculpt, draw, and use electronics, laser cutting and 3D printing in my creations.
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I have a separate website specializing in my automata artworks.
Please visit www.justinmiles-automata.com to have a look!
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I have slowly but surely been amassing a variety of wooden lamp designs, based roughly on traditional Japanese lamps. I have a growing list of very satisfied customers.
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Here are various lamps I have made in recent years. If you like a particular design, and it is not in stock – please email me to place a custom order. justystarz@hagurumacrafts.ca
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My Designs
All of my lamp bodies are hand-crafted, with minimum machine processing. Every one is unique in its own way. And basically, I follow the principles of Wabi Sabi. I like to keep the wood grain and knots in my designs where possible. Very little finishing, if at all, is used. If there is a finish, it will be a beeswax polish. If the wood used is fragrant, (for example, Sugi has a wonderful warm scent) I will not use any sealant at all.
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That being said, expect your lamp’s wood to change colour slightly over time, or be affected by direct sunlight.
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The lamp panels are based on original Japanese design motifs, and a mixture of my own design or interests.
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My Training
I graduated from Emily Carr College of Art and Design with a degree in Fine Arts and Classical Animation in 1997.
Since then, much of my training is self-led, but I did have the amazing opportunity to meet and learn from Japanese Karakuri Ningyo Master Tomaya Shobei IX.
In 2017, I was invited to participate in participating in a Japanese reality show called "Who Wants to Go to Japan"​. I spent a week following Tamaya-san, and he gave me many opportunities to see up-close many rare karakuri ningyo (automata) and taught me some of the basics in their construction. I was also shown how to care for the carving tools, and to make my own. Sent home with many examples, (including a gift of a few tools of his own! So lucky!!) I've been fine tuning my skills in this regard. The Japanese inspired lamps and crafts are just a few examples of how this experience has effected my work.
I continue to be very grateful for this experience.
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