For the past 30 years, woodworking has been my medium of choice for artistic expression and outfitting my homes with handcrafted furniture and cabinets. When I retired 12 years ago, I began wood turning in my basement studio and joined the largest wood turning club in the southeast, The Carolina Woodturners. My new hobby quickly involved into a passion as I honed my skills and tools in my home studio and machine shop, as well as within the local wood turning community. For the past 10 years, I have been assisting, and recently transitioned into teaching, at Arrowmont School of Arts, John C. Campbell Folk Art School, and Clemson University's OLLI Program.
Items that I turn include original bowls, boxes, vases, and jewelry. I select only choice pieces of wood that promise unique, and sometimes surprising, results. In addition to selling online, I also showcase and sell pieces in a local boutique, The Purple Sunflower. Several of my pieces are in personal collections, the most notable acquired by a Professor of Art at the University of Virginia.
The natural beauty of wood draws me to turning. My goal is to turn pieces that enhance the natural beauty of the wood and I achieve this by stressing line, form, and finish in my work. I believe eyes and touch are fundamental tools for the artist. As an artist, my goal is to create a form with smooth flowing lines that draw the individual to want to touch the object. When an individual touches the smooth surface of my pieces, I want them to experience the same cool touch of holding a pearl. I create this experience by emphasizing the finish in all my work.
To achieve the finish results, all my pieces are hand sanded and various finishes are applied for desired effect. For natural finished pieces, I use a Tung oil that enhances the grain and color of the wood. Pieces that are dyed, burned, or painted, receive a lacquer finish. When the finish has cured, it is waxed and hand rubbed. From inception to completion, I work to provide the highest quality product for my customers.
