https://gnarlyvoid.com Tufted fiber art, weaving, pottery, and handmade objects by Jake Goldsborough in the Pacific Northwest. Zola en Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/21/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/21/ <p>The wing is carved. That changes everything.</p> <p>Most tufted work earns its depth through pile alone; here the drake's wing rides over the body in sculpted relief, so the bird actually stands off the wall. Cream shoulder, brown coverts, the blue speculum flashing between black and white bars - the one part of a mallard that looks designed gets the most dimensional treatment.</p> <p>Behind him the scene goes cubist: a red sun scored with black rules, gray-green bands of horizon, a ground plane shattered into blue and gray triangles. The bird is all field-guide fidelity - bottle-green head, white collar, chestnut breast, orange feet - standing in a landscape that gave up on realism entirely. He doesn't seem to mind.</p> <p>A sculpted cream border traces the whole silhouette and squares it off, part frame, part halo, keeping the composition one object instead of a bird pasted on a backdrop.</p> <p>Drake holds the tension between taxidermy and toy - anatomically earnest, structurally playful, a specimen mounted in a world made of shapes.</p> <p>He's a piece in the <a href="https://birdhaus.art">Birdhaus</a> series - forms over feathers - the red sun and its black bars carried from screen into pile.</p> Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/19/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/19/ <p>An impossible object, made real.</p> <p>The Penrose triangle only exists as a drawing - three beams that meet at right angles no physical object could hold. Tufting it is a small act of defiance: taking a shape that cannot exist and giving it high-pile texture, weight, and a place to hang on a wall.</p> <p>The whole illusion rides on value. There's no trick geometry here, just three faces in light gray, mid gray, and near-black, and the eye does the rest - reading the gradient as light falling across surfaces that fold impossibly into each other. Flatten the color and the magic collapses; it's the tonal shift that keeps the beams turning.</p> <p>Tufted with dense, even pile, the hard edges of the figure stay crisp while the surface goes soft and inviting. Precision holds the shape; texture makes you want to touch the thing your eyes insist can't be there.</p> <p>Penrose is a study in contradiction - rigid and plush, flat and dimensional, impossible and hanging right in front of you.</p> Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/20/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/20/ <p>Stop. Slow down. Go!</p> <p>A tufted traffic light.</p> Sat, 04 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/18/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/18/ <p>A study in form, balance, and bold reduction.</p> <p>This Bauhaus-inspired owl distills the subject down to its essential geometry - circles, arcs, and color blocks arranged with intention. The symmetry is almost mechanical, but the oversized eyes and softened edges keep it firmly in the realm of character.</p> <p>Primary colors anchor the composition against a deep black field, giving it that classic Bauhaus tension: function versus expression, system versus personality. The eyes pull you in immediately - equal parts alert, curious, and slightly surreal.</p> <p>Tufted with thick, high-pile texture, the rigid geometry breaks just enough at the edges to remind you this is still fiber, still handmade. Precision meets softness.</p> <p>Bowlhaus sits somewhere between mascot and modernist study - a minimal owl that feels both engineered and alive.</p> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/17/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/17/ <p>A tufted textile recreation of a computer RAM stick, crafted with surprising technical accuracy. The piece features a green circuit board base with yellow contact pins running along the bottom edge. The memory chips are represented by alternating rectangles in cream, navy blue, and light mint colors, arranged in the characteristic symmetric pattern of RAM modules. Yellow dots above the chips mimic capacitors or other surface-mount components. Two circular elements cap each end--one in bright yellow, one in navy blue--representing mounting hardware or heat spreaders.</p> <p>The attention to detail extends to the actual layout: the chips and components are positioned where they'd actually appear on a real DDR4 or DDR5 module. Made with short cut pile on a green tufted background.</p> <p>This piece takes something typically invisible and hyper-abstract (system memory) and forces it into the physical world at an exaggerated scale. A stick of RAM, but oversized, tactile, and slow.</p> <p>It's a nod to the infrastructure layer that underpins everything we're building right now. Models, agents, orchestration layers - all of it ultimately collapses down into memory, allocation, and throughput. This rug turns that hidden dependency into something you can actually see, touch, and trip over.</p> <p>There's a bit of humor in it too. RAM is expensive, so naturally the solution is to tuft your own. But beneath that is a quieter idea: we're increasingly surrounded by systems we don't physically interact with anymore. This piece pulls one of those systems back into human scale.</p> <p>A tribute, or maybe an offering, to the machines.</p> <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/16/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/16/ <p>A study in movement and restraint, this tufted piece uses a sequence of flowing, offset waves to create depth without relying on hard contrast. The palette moves from deep cobalt through pale mint into soft seafoam and gray, evoking water, erosion, and layered natural forms. Its irregular silhouette breaks away from the traditional rectangular rug, allowing the composition to expand outward and feel uncontained. The result is a tactile, sculptural surface that shifts with light and perspective - somewhere between landscape and motion captured in fiber.</p> Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/15/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/15/ <p>A geometric study in wool inspired by the textile compositions of <a href="https://www.davidnottdesign.com/">David Nott</a>. Blocks, arcs, and circles interlock like architectural elements, forming a small landscape of structure and balance.</p> <p><strong>Not a Nott</strong> is a geometric tufted composition built from circles, arcs, and modular blocks arranged within a heavy black grid.</p> <p>Bold outlines divide color and texture into architectural shapes. Rust, sand, ochre, and stone tones create a warm, grounded palette while the varying pile directions and densities give the surface a tactile depth.</p> <p>The composition feels structured but playful - part stained glass window, part abstract map, part mechanical diagram. Circles anchor the design while rectangular forms create rhythm and movement throughout the frame.</p> <p>It is a nod to the influence, but intentionally not a reproduction.</p> <p><em>Not a Nott.</em></p> Sun, 15 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/14/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/14/ <p>This hand-tufted rug explores organic movement through layered green tones and sculpted pile. Deep forest green "drips" cascade over lighter mint and cream shapes, creating a fluid, melting effect that feels both natural and surreal. The carved texture enhances the dimensional look, giving the piece a soft topographic quality where colors appear to flow into one another.</p> <p>Multiple shades of green create depth and contrast, while the high-low tufting and hand carving emphasize the dripping forms. The result is a sculptural textile that blurs the line between rug and wall art.</p> <p>Inspired by liquid motion, mossy landscapes, and experimental fiber design, this piece works equally well as a small statement rug or as textured fiber art for a wall.</p> Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/13/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/13/ <p>Inspired by more tattoo art, this piece features a colorful bird. It was originally drawn and tattooed by Olive aka Damn Zippy. Check her out <a href="https://damnzippy.com/">here</a></p> Wed, 18 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/12/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/12/ <p>A hand-tufted rug inspired by traditional tattoo flash.</p> <p>This piece features a bold five-petal flower with a bright yellow center, saturated red petals, and heavy black outlines. The white halo gives the design breathing room, while the deep green leaves ground it with contrast and balance.</p> <p>Built with thick pile and sharp color blocking, it's designed to read clearly from a distance and feel plush up close. The sculpted silhouette follows the leaves and petals, turning the graphic into a functional object.</p> <p>Classic flash energy, translated into fiber.</p> Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/11/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/11/ <p>Exploring softness as structure.</p> <p>Layered pastel forms drift and overlap, anchored by a dense, warm base that grounds the composition. Rounded protrusions interrupt the surface like half-remembered details, inviting touch as much as inspection.</p> <p>I spent extra time trimming and shearing this one. I wanted the layers to look like they were on top of each other and had "depth".</p> Sun, 18 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/10/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/10/ <p>Between weaving, crocheting, and now tufting, we have a decent collection of yarn going. We had been storing it stacked up in a tight little Ikea shelf but that made it hard to sort and see what we had. I saw this idea online and thought it was great because it both functions and looks good. This doesn't quite cover quite all the fiber supply but it handles a lot of it. We are considering one more board on the wall adjacent the right board.</p> <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <p>First, I built some simple frames out of 1x2s. I did this to give the pegboard some "depth" to allow for the pegs to stay in place. I could have used nylon spacers but went this route instead. After that, I screwed the pegboards on top of this frame. Then I flipped it over and attached 3 tooth hangers on each. I hung these using drywall anchors because there was no stud perfectly where we wanted it. With 3 hangers spreading out the load, I'm confident it should stay put.</p> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> <ul> <li>1x2s</li> <li>pegboards - (2) 2' x 4'</li> <li>screws <ul> <li>#8 - 1 1/2" (for the frame)</li> <li>#6 - 1" (attaching pegboard to frame)</li> </ul> </li> </ul> Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/9/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/9/ <p>This piece is dedicated to the G train in New York City.</p> <p>The G is an odd line. It does not touch Manhattan. It runs quietly through Brooklyn and Queens, connecting places that feel adjacent but rarely centered. It is often overlooked, often delayed, and deeply relied on by the people who use it every day.</p> <p>Rendered in soft fiber, the familiar green circle becomes tactile and slow. What is usually signage and schedule turns into something physical - dense, imperfect, and worn at the edges. The letterform holds its shape, but only just. The pile absorbs sharpness. The symbol becomes an object.</p> <p>Like the train itself, this piece is about persistence rather than spectacle. About movement that happens off to the side. About systems that are lived in more than they are noticed.</p> <p>A transit mark translated into texture.</p> Tue, 13 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/8/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/8/ <p>This is now my second batch of glazed pottery. I'm definitely seeing improvements with my shaping and consistency. I was disappointed in a few of the overlapping glaze experiments I tried but that's how you learn. At this point, I think I have enough pots and experience that I can start to get a little pickier with what I send to fire. I have a bunch of pinch pots that got bisque fired that I hope to glaze fire and show soon.</p> Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/7/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/7/ <p>What started out as an experiment with a random yarn color I found turned into a fiber piece with a blast of color that I love. It gives me 90s psychadelic vibes.</p> Sun, 11 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/6/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/6/ <p>A blue and white capsule inspired by Vyvanse. I was diagnosed later in life and this medicine has improved my life in ways I couldn't imagine. I used to think I was just lazy or apathethic, but turns out my brain just functions differently.</p> Sat, 10 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/5/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/5/ <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <p>I'm a big fan of King Gizz and wanted to create a piece inspired by them. The alligator is available in a simple 2d outline that was perfect for tufting. I decided to mount it on a thin piece of birch that I painted bright purple. I got the paint in the samples section for $2 and I think it provides a perfect backdrop.</p> <p>This is an early piece so there are still some rough edges. The top of the back could have been a thicker outline. I also chose not to give it pupils as I didn't think it would look very good as a small dot of yarn.</p> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> <p>Yarn</p> <ul> <li>acrylic</li> </ul> <p>Wood</p> <ul> <li>birch</li> </ul> Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/4/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/4/ <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <p>Started this as a wall hanging. Tufted the top left black square first, then added the center squares. Halfway through I got a new long pile tufting machine and decided to pivot it into a rug instead. You can see the longer pile in the beige corners - that's where I started using the new machine. The rest is shorter pile from the original wall hanging plan.</p> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> <p>Yarn:</p> <ul> <li>Acrylic</li> <li>Wool</li> </ul> Fri, 02 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/3/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/3/ <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <p>Slab built by hand</p> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> <p>Clay from Georgie's:</p> <ul> <li>White Salmon with Speckles</li> <li>Trail Mix</li> <li>Timberline</li> </ul> <p>Various glazes</p> Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/2/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/2/ <p>Inspired by a piece seen in a Vulfmon video</p> <h3 id="process">Process</h3> <h3 id="materials">Materials</h3> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/about/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/about/ <p>Gnarly Void is an maker site centered on creating physical objects by hand. The work spans clay, fiber, wood, and mixed materials, with each piece emerging from long stretches of focused, uninterrupted making.</p> <p>I call these works voids because of how they are made. A void is a state of attention where time compresses, external noise falls away, and the act of making becomes the only thing that exists. Inside that space, materials are allowed to lead. Decisions are slow. Imperfections are left visible.</p> <p>The process matters as much as the outcome. These pieces are not designed to be mass-produced or optimized for scale. They are shaped through repetition, experimentation, and listening to what the material wants to do rather than forcing it into a fixed result.</p> <p>Gnarly Void exists to hold that work. Finished pieces, works in progress, and occasional one-off experiments all live here. The practice is guided by a simple idea: tuning the silence into a harmony of matter.</p> <p>If you are drawn to handmade art, tactile objects, and work that values process over polish, you are in the right place.</p> Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 site@gnarlyvoid.com (Jake Goldsborough) https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/1/ https://gnarlyvoid.com/voids/1/ <p>My first rug. I recently got a tufting machine and wanted to start simple. The black square came first, then I decided to add a few rows of purple. After that, I decided a gold border would look good.</p>