I began my career in woodturning upon my retirement in 1996. I studied turning locally and in Utah. My art is created on a lathe specifically designed to turn wood. My lathe, a John Jordan Stubby, is manufactured in Australia by Omega Corporation. This lathe can turn a piece of wood up to 30″ in diameter and 32″ in length. It has a 2 HP motor and has electronic speed control. Tool technique is very important and necessary to create artistic pieces. Before I turn a piece of wood I visualize the shape to be turned making sure to make the cuts that preserve the most figure and color. I then mount the wood on the lathe orienting the piece so as to create that visualized shape while retaining the figure. I do not color the wood; Mother Nature has provided all the color that is necessary. I turn many kinds of woods which include: redwood burl, maple burl, walnut, elm, oak, carob, olive, black acacia and many others.
