Alison Elizabeth Taylor mastered the process and technique of marquetry (the art and craft of applying pieces of wood veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns or designs) early in her career. She utilizes this delicate and time-consuming technique to create dynamic compositions that explore space and landscape. She carefully selects her wood pieces to add depth and perspective to her works without adding actual layers of sculptural form. In The Fire Wave, she experimented with laminating pieces of wood with photographs of other textures like rock, metal, and painted materials. Pleased with the similarity between the micro-expressions of other materials and the natural grains of wood, she embraced this new process dubbed “marquetry hybrid”.