Stan Witten, Senior Engraver

“Maples are beautiful year-round, even in winter, and I fell in love with them when I moved to Ottawa—I even planted a few in our backyard, and those trees provided the inspiration for this design. In the fall of 2023, as the leaves were coming down, I gathered some and placed them on the ground to form the arrangement seen here. After photographing it, I drew a sketch and then sculpted it, taking care to give each leaf a 3D composition by including undulations that form subtle valleys, and concave areas that create visual movement. That’s the key to creating visual interest in a shape that, upon first glance, seems so simple (although it’s not): depending on the art style, a subtle 3D form is more interesting than a series of carved lines. And a strong central image, with a lot of negative space to keep the focus on the main subject — in this case, the maple leaves — makes for a classic design with lasting appeal. These leaves are presented cleanly and without any attachments; they could be interpreted as being in free flight or laying on the ground, and as being symbolic of the passage of time. Having them lean to the right adds a clockwise circular flow that complements the coin shape, while still allowing a great view of the leaf that is so symbolic of Canada and our wild places, which have inspired me throughout my life and career.”