Artist Highlight

As a self-taught woodworker, I have enjoyed this fine craft for over 20 years. The unique properties of all types of wood intrigue me, and the more I learn... the more intrigued I become. The natural grain of the wood tells a story about the tree's original structure and hardness. The grain and knot patterns emerge as the wood is turned, and very often, surprising colors are also revealed. No two pieces will ever be the same.

I use woods native to Florida and other parts of the U.S. as well as exotic woods from around the world for functional pieces and sculptural forms. Florida woods include Mahogany, Mango, Norfolk Island Pine, Sapodilla and others. Manzanita burls, from the mountains of the western U.S., have dramatic red tones. Exotics, such as Wenge (Africa), Bloodwood (Brazil) and Snakewood (Surinam) offer rich colors and grain patterns. Of particular interest are woods that have developed unique characteristics in their aging process. Wormholes and spalting (the fine, dark lines that appear as wood starts to decay) create exciting challenges in woodturning.

Many of my pieces will have some form of inlay. I typically use slices of burl wood, brass, silver, mother of pearl, or semi-precious stones such as lapis lazuli, malachite, coral, turquoise, and onyx. The greatest challenge is creating a piece with the right com- bination of wood(s), shape texture, inlay and finish. I never use stains or dyes.