| I use a LATHE to HAND-CRAFT ITEMS
OF WOOD. It may seem strange to some to use the term HAND-CRAFT when using a
machine, but the lathe is a very unique machine in that it is the only woodworking machine
which "SPINS THE WOOD WHILE THE OPERATOR HOLDS THE CUTTING TOOL
IN HAND. ALL other woodworking machines spin a cutting tool while the operator
holds the wood. The lathe is unique in this regard.
My goal is not to TURN WOOD to produce functional objects. MY goal is to create
ITEMS OF WOOD for the enjoyment of those people who love wood and pursue the visual and
tactile properties of that material.
Often I am asked if the wood speaks to me? Does the piece of wood tell me what it wants to
be? I wish it did. I wish it were that simple. For me there is a constant search for a
design followed by a search for a piece of wood with which to faithfully render the
design.
The process I employ involves both art and craft. The ART of the process
involves the design and creativity necessary to envision a particular piece. The form must
be conceived in the mind, refined in design true to the conception, and finally rendered
to a design sketch. Finally the craftsmanship of the lathe operator is applied to a
carefully selected piece of wood to produce the envisioned piece. The CRAFT
of lathe turning is the ability of the lathe operator to precisely control the dynamics of
holding a very sharp cutting tool against a rapidly spinning piece of wood while
controlling the cutting process to produce a preconceived form. This is the
essence of woodturning. This is the essence of my work.
There is a tension in the marriage of this art and this craft. The art
conceives, while the craft strives to create, without compromise, true to the art. This is
not an easy marriage. This marriage must be successful for the piece to survive.
I enjoy my work. I love it! I love the art process and the craft process.
It is a selfish process as it gives me great pleasure to produce a unique ITEM OF WOOD
having visual and tactile qualities which may be enjoyed beyond my future by those who
treasure wood. The selfish nature of this process demands the ITEM please me. If it does
not, it cannot carry the signature
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