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About Me
I am constantly amazed with the curves and symmetry in nature. Working with wood and creating objects that provide practical and/or emotional function is very satisfying for me. I have a mathematics degree so numbers are always bouncing around in my head. The natural symmetry and proportion we find in nature is truly inspiring. This natu
I am constantly amazed with the curves and symmetry in nature. Working with wood and creating objects that provide practical and/or emotional function is very satisfying for me. I have a mathematics degree so numbers are always bouncing around in my head. The natural symmetry and proportion we find in nature is truly inspiring. This natural symmetry, also referred to as the “divine proportion”, “golden ratio”, or the “golden mean” is a recurring number (1.618) often found in nature and used throughout history in design, music, and art. The idea being that this proportion creates an aesthetically pleasing composition.
Woodturning allows me to explore nature (and numbers) while providing me the challenge of solving problems and working with my hands. With each piece I create, I strive to find a form that elicits a thought or emotion within me. It is very rewarding when others connect to the pieces I create in their own way. Many of the items I create also have a very practical function which is another amazing benefit of this art form.
The process of creating items with wood also requires patience as a piece can take several months to dry the wood and ultimately finish. I have been a competitive distance runner since I was a child and this discipline has also helped me to patiently work through the process of translating an idea in my head to a tangible form which can sometimes take months (or years) to develop.
Each piece of wood is different and often what you see on the outside is not necessarily indicative of what is hidden on the inside. Wood surprises you with its varied grain patterns, knots, cracks, and colors.
The wood I use mainly comes from trees that have fallen on my property or my local area in Winston-Salem, NC. I enjoy the hunt to rescue wood that may have been discarded or tagged for firewood. I learn something from every piece I create and constantly strive to improve my skills. Thanks for visiting my website.
“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.” - Henry David Thoreau