Although I have operated a woodturning lathe for many years and have been trained to operate a metal turning lathe as a tool and die maker, it was not until I attended a woodturning school several years ago, while living in England, that I really began to appreciate the excitement and pleasure of creating an object that can be pleasing to the eye and a feeling of warmth to the touch.
I have learned that shape and space are the purpose for the piece. No matter how clever the technique or unusual or beautiful the grain of the wood, a poor shape defeats the reason that it exists. I especially enjoy the experience of turning a piece of wood that has been left to decay or is destined for the firewood pile into something that is beautiful to look at and can be enjoyed for many years. Except for my segmented pieces, I rarely start a piece with an absolute shape in mind but rather let the natural character of the wood (grain, cracks, worm holes, bark inclusions, etc.) lead me to the final shape, size, wall thickness and weight.
As I continue to explore and expand my knowledge and skill, I have begun to create segmented vessels. By starting with flat boards and pieces of wood and cutting them into very precise shapes, they are assembled and then turned to the final shape. This allows me to add color, movement and texture to my pieces.
My wife and I have recently returned from living in China for six months and while living there I took the opportunity to study the different shapes and sizes of the vessels used by the Chinese people in everyday life. I intend to incorporate these shapes and sizes into vessels that I turn in the future.
When people see my work, I'd like them to have the urge to touch it and "feel" the warmth and softness of the piece.
