ABOUT THE ARTIST

Upon retiring after 33 years as an educator in the public schools of Texas, I became interested in the lathe and woodturning. I researched the lathe and general woodworking for the remainder of the year. I spent time with master turners in Texas and Ohio learning the techniques of woodturning. I joined the Southwest Association of Turners and the American Association of Woodturners. My mentor is master turner Larry Roberts from Arlington, Texas.

I work with all woods, but my preference is mesquite. I enjoy turning natural edge bowls from West Texas mesquite. I also work with pecan, Chinese elm, cottonwood, cedar, ash, rosewood, Texas ebony, ebony, walnut, mulberry, chinaberry, persimmon, and Osage orange. My pieces vary in size, shape, and design, and are dictated by the wood type, size and defects (i.e., cracks, knots, bark inclusions, etc.). The defects in the wood can provide some very dramatic effects on the finished piece, either through inlays or naturally. My goal is to turn pieces of high quality that will fit well in any gallery, but I also turn and construct special order pieces in my studio in Colorado City, Texas.

I now devote all my time to designing and turning pieces of the highest quality. None of my turnings are the same, as no two pieces of wood are the same. Finding that ideal piece from a raw piece of wood is the continuing challenge that calls me to the studio each day.