About the Artist
I grew up in upstate N.Y. with a carpenter for a father that built two of his own houses. I have always loved and been good at working with my hands. I became a welder, and built things out of steel. Knowing that I didn’t want to weld when I was old, I went back to school. Now an engineer by trade, I was pretty much stuck at a computer most of the day. I had to find something I could do with my hands. I had a friend in the mid 80’s that was a wood worker. The awesome beauty of God’s creation of the tree blew me away. Cut into two same specie of tree standing side by side the wood will be different, that did and still does amaze me. I bought a table saw, a router and a sander. Started building small projects and watching New Yankee workshop. I loved it. I could take a pile of lumber and turn it into something pretty nice. Then around 2000 my brother asked me to go to a pen turning class. I went and really enjoyed it. You take a tiny piece of wood and turn it into something useful. Everybody loved my pens. Then my brother gave me a lathe, and like I usually do I ordered 150 pen kits. After building about 40 or 50 I was bored! I had seen people turning other thing and I had to try.
I was driving to work after a night storm and saw a downed maple. I asked if I could have a few piece. I cranked up the chainsaw and cut myself a few bowl blanks. I mounted it into my lathe. I started peeling off layers of wood, now my turning was not a pretty sight, but wow! It was almost all curly and birds eyed. Didn’t think it possible, but I was even more amazed by God’s creation. The twist, turns, and figure of the grain as I peeled more layers, I was completely floored. I finished the bowl, which looking back was far from good, and took it back to the people that let me have the tree. When I saw their face of appreciation and amazement I was addicted. I saw that other people were as amazed I was with what was in side of the rough ugly bark.
I knew I had to do it again, and get good at it. There is a constant learning curve trying to figure out the best location, section, and angle to cut a log. Then you crank up the saw and start cutting. It is still like Christmas morning at 7 years old every time. Surprise! I then take the square block of wood mount it in my lathe and start peeling away layers. It reiterates my fascination with creation.
Now comes the other part I love creating the shape and design, although the wood dictates part of the shape, when you find something really cool inside you have to leave it which changes your initial shape. I now just start with an idea of what I want i.e. vase, bowl, lidded vessel, and let the wood tell me what shape it wants to be.
I get all of my wood for my solid turnings from the landfill & other downed trees. It is a awesome feeling and hard to believe after all of my shaping, smoothing, sanding, and applying the finish, sometimes even micro waving, that this beautiful piece of art came from the land fill. A couple of years I had my wife ask if I would take a pottery class with her. I had seen shows on throwing and was intrigued, so I took the class. I really liked it, but I didn’t want to give up or limit my wood turning, so I have been trying to create ways to combine the two. The throwing of the pot is fun but the chemistry of mixing the glazes fascinates me. Mixing a little of this and a little of that and then mix fire and see what it does.
First and foremost I would like thank God for the talent I have for taking his marvelous creations and turning them into mine. Thank you Lord
I would like to thank my brother Bill for sparking my interest and getting me started into something I really love to do.
I would especially like to thank Carol Hulsey the owner of the company at which I am an engineer. She has been my biggest fan. She has supported me and encouraged me to share my art with others. Without her the flat spaces in my house would have just kept filling up. She has my total gratitude and admiration.