Windmill Woodturning

The body of my work comes from reclaimed and recycled material that would otherwise rot or be destroyed. I have been turning wood for over twenty years, developing the skill and vision to create an expressive and pleasing art form. First, woodturning requires work. Logs are cut into manageable segments for transporting and then re-shaped for mounting on the lathe. Second, woodturning requires thou

ghtful preparation. Preliminary decisions about design and orientation are determined and the roughing out process begins as irregular shapes are brought into “the round.”

Third, the turner discovers the hidden secrets and potential of the wood. And finally, a form is envisioned and refined. The artistic spirit produces something that neither belongs to the tree or the lathe, the chisel or the turner. I have edited a quote from Louis Nizer, the famous New York trial lawyer, to illustrate what I am saying:

A person who works with the hands is a laborer; a person who works with hands and the brain is a craftsperson; but a person who works with hands and brain and the heart is an artist. The interplay between hands, head and heart creates the playful space of art. Subtle attention to detail may bring out a shadow line on the rim of a bowl. Highlighting the presence of a void or bark texture on the surface of a vase draws the eye’s attention. Positioning the wood to reveal the symmetry of a pleasing grain pattern gives the piece a balance. This is the play of imagination in a space that is not solely controlled by the artist, the machine, or the wood. The art is imagined and the final form flows out of the potential of the wood and the skill of the turner. My goal, as a wood artist, is to discover these possibilities, to educate the public about the art and craft of woodturning, and to teach others to find their own artistic style and expression.