Seven years ago I retired as a photographer for Tenn. Tech University where I worked for 26 years.I have been working in wood for about 35 years as a hobby.I think I have always had a creative side from singing and playing guitar as well as photography and woodworking. It is all starting to come together to let me create unique works of art. I have this constant awareness of things around me that give me ideas to work from. I think that stems from photography and learning to really “see” the simply things around us.
That and the sense of humor I get from my Dad allow me to constantly play with ideas. After I moved to Cookeville and met the wonderful people at the Appalachian Center for craft I began to work more as a wood turner and carver. This led to many explorations of what is capable with a wood turning lathe. Most of my pieces today either start or end on the lathe but I try not to limit myself. If I have a design in mind I use whatever tool it takes to create the piece.
Working with the Craft Center also allowed me to learn some metal working which has proven quite useful to augment my woodworking. Along with working in wood I like to help others learn these skills. I have written many articles for American Woodturner, Woodturning Design, More Woodturning, Woodturning fundamentals, and the English publication Woodturning.I have also taught classes at Arrow mont, John C Campbell Folk School and the Appalachian Center for Crafts.I travel around the country doing demo’s at wood turning clubs and have demonstrated at several regional and national woodturning symposiums.
