All of my turned pieces start from a solid block of wood. While the lathe spins the wood, I guide various turning chisels to remove material and shape the object. Spindle turning is done with the grain of the wood parallel to the lathe bed, and faceplate turning is done with the wood grain perpendicular to the bed of the lathe. Baluster rails and bowls are respective examples of each. Hollow forms can be turned either way.
Beyond basic woodturning, I also use eccentric turning in many of my sculptural forms and finials. In this method of turning I turn a single piece multiple times with a differing axis. I sometimes employ a technique called green or wet turning that requires freshly cut wood be turned to its final thickness. The high moisture content of this wood causes shrinkage and movement as it dries. After a vessel is turned I use color and texturing to enhance the grain, emphasize a contrast, or evoke an emotion.
Adding feet to my vessels not only raises the piece off the ground, but also allows the piece to lean creating angles and movement. This gracefulness adds life to my forms, and attracts the desired attention to the juxtaposition of the form and the delicate legs that hold up the larger hollow vessel.
The choice of wood, color, and texture, along with the
quality of my finish, makes my final product an object of
beauty and a delight to hold and caress.
Each piece I make is unique. The pictures below will give
you an idea of the quality of my work and the personal
attention that goes into every detail. Unfortunately the
pictures cannot reveal the fit of the lids on the boxes or
the various textures and quality of the finishes used. For
these attributes there is no substitute for the touch.
Please feel free to call and talk to me with any questions
you have regarding my work or where it might be found in a
gallery near you.
