Tim W. Arnold — Nashville, TN | shakersawdust.com
I make Shaker Oval Boxes using traditional methods with domestic and exotic woods.
Peter Boerger — Indianapolis, IN | woodenspecs.com
My vision was to create artistic eyeglass frames from wood, but with a scale and form that might, upon first inspection, belie their unique materials. I have designed four frame styles and use four different native hardwoods (cherry, oak, sycamore and walnut). Paint, wood-burned designs, mother of pearl and sterling silver are often used to achieve the artistic sense that I seek. But the art of the frames would, to me, be incomplete were the frames not also functional, a goal upon which I have spent considerable time. While the frames are not as robust in handling as commercially available frames, with a reasonable degree of care they can be worn daily. They are also fully repairable, which I consider important to the ethic of functional art. In a throwaway world, repair can allow us to keep special things for a lifetime, developing a unique character as they evolve. The purchaser participates in the creation by getting lenses fitted (either prescription or sunglass).
Michael J. Brolly — Bethlehem, PA | michaeljbrolly.com
While using a medium as ancient as wood I strive to confront it's peculiarities and push it into realms rarely associated with wood. This new work uses the time signature of the wood as a thought provoking point of departure. My hope is to tug at the viewers concious and/or sub-concious getting them to look anew at everyday atrocities that become banal under the onslaught of information overload.
Gordon Browning — Viola, WI | gordonbrowning.com
I make lathe-turned hollow vessels. Each piece is turned from a single log. Most of my wood is salvage, and the shapes vary with the wood collected. I strive for clean, full lines and a full-bodied look that hints at the original log beneath. The vessel walls are uniformly thin for lightness and balance, and the opening at the top is finger-tip small. The tung oil finish has a natural look and invites touch.
Kimberly Chalos — Evansville, IN | handcarvedhandbags.com
Hand carved hardwoods are combined with leather to create functional handbags. My handbags are sculpted into beautiful flower forms with wood burning accents or small painted critters atop the soft flowing leaf forms of my handbags. All hidden hardware of barrel hinges and magnets help disguise the true function of the handbags. Braided leather with small handmade wood beads are used for straps. Interior is fully lined with suede or silky material and cushioned for a soft feel. Small rubber feet are attached to bottom to protect the wood.
Sharon H. Diebolt — Rochester, NY
I am always amazed at the inherent beauty of wood. I am especially fascinated in working with veneers, first because many of the most figured and exotic woods are available only in this form, but also because of the unique design challenges presented to me when working with these fragile layers. From the beginning process of bending and shaping the veneer to the addition of the delicate details, each piece becomes an evolving sculpture. When I apply the final hand-rubbed finish to the completed work, the figure and colors of the wood come alive; each final piece is different from the last and is a continual source of joy and surprise.
David C. Earle — Vashon, WA | davidturnswood.com
The variety of trees in this world is mesmerizing. Each species has strengths and weaknesses, which come into play during it's life, and after. Shaping green wood on a lathe is invigorating, messy, and lots of fun. The sound that sharp tools make as they slice off long shavings is addicting. Using wet wood is unpredictable, but often gives the work more character. Once the bowls are dry, I gently sand them to a flawless surface, and finish them with walnut oil. This reveals the story of the tree, which is recorded permanently in the grain. I love knowing that 100 years from now, many of my bowls, rolling pins, boxes, & tops will still be used daily.
Janel N. Jacobson — Harris, MN | janeljacobson.com
I carve small-scale, palm-sized sculptures, by hand from very hard woods. Some pieces have inlay of other materials such as amber, mammoth tusk ivory, horn and antler. The natural world around my home is the resource for my subjects and compositions. Such pieces, to be viewed and handled by the observer, provide a quiet, contemplative atmosphere; one that would encourage and enable an intimate, emotional connection with memories or experiences in the mind of the observer. In 2009, I learned to use a lathe. The small turned pieces provide a new dimension for carving upon. Some small, round forms are made into netsuke, which are small toggles that were used in pre-westernized Japan to suspend a pouch or container from the traditional kimono and obi.
Ray Jones — Asheville, NC | rayjoneswoodboxes.com
I make boxes entirely of wood. This includes the hinges, fasteners, latches and drawer slides. Many of my boxes consist of multiple turned components that are joined and sculpted. The plywoods used are made in my shop from layers of veneer.
Vernon & Karen Leibrant — Everson, WA | vkleibrant.com
We hand turn on the lathe, wood bowls and plates,10* to 4* in diameter. They are both sculptural and functional. We use only rescued wood from trees taken down for other reasons. We turn simple, classic shapes to let the character of the wood and grain be foremost in each piece. We do not laminate; all the pieces are cut from one block of wood.
S. Ashley Murphy — Lincoln University, PA | sashleymurphy.com
All of my one-of-a-kind, lathe-turned pieces are created by discovering grains and colors under the natural surface of the wood. Each piece tells a specific story, whether it be about a path through life experiences, where the specific wood was found, or the characteristic or feature of the individual piece.
Mark A. Perry — Foxboro, MA | folkartsculptor.com
Early American folk art sculpture and the passionate spirit with which the very best of it was made is the foundation of my work. These bold and naive expressions of day-to-day themes, with patinas created by time and weather, inspire awe. The finest folk art is unexpected, simple, a perfect balance of surface and form; this is the harmony that I seek to create in my own sculptures. My goal is to create unique works that reflect the emotional spirit of the most powerful antique folk art masterpieces but also find a place of their own in today's contemporary world.
Norm E. Sartorius — Parkersburg, WV | normsartorius.com
Spoon is a category, similar to bowl, plate, or teapot. Within each category are infinite varieties of form, size, texture, abstraction, color, and emotion. We understand this shape, (the spoon); it has a rich inherent symbolism though which the most ordinary aspects of our life are transfigured into something timeless. My goal is to explore that reservoir and carve sculptures that people will view as treasured objects. My spoons are sculptures and my sculptures are spoons. Public collections such as the Carnegie Museum of Art, The Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Renwick Gallery, the Yale Art Gallery, and the Museum of Fine Art Houston have added my carvings to their permanent collections.
Koji Tanaka — Santa Barbara, CA | kojitanaka.com
The heart of my work is derived from organic forms found in nature. Working with wood allows me to sculpt natural pieces and attempt to embody and regain what nature has perfected over millenia. Every piece of wood I work with has its own unique characteristics and grain patterns that dictate how the material will best be displayed. These patterns and flows are fundamental to each piece as they provide as much art to the pieces as my hands. Much of the work is accomplished with hand and power tools, such as chisels, grinders, and sander, but in the finishing stages, it is completely hand-sanded. I believe the hand is the best tool to truly bring the piece to its finished stage. I want my clients to experience my pieces as I do in their final stages, feeling and touching all the curves, grains, and essence with their fingers. My pieces are as much a visual experience as they are a tactile one.
Holly Tornheim — Nevada City, CA | hollytornheim.com
All my pieces are carvings created using both power and hand tools. I utilize solid pieces of wood in their natural color in the designs.
Philip Weber — Effort, PA | weberboxes.com
I work with wood, and some metals to highlight and contrast my designs. I incorporate different joinery techniques to achieve a decorative and functional box. My goal is to create a piece that holds in it a history of applied art and regional movements (Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Asian, and Architectural design), and yet is uniquely my own. My work encompasses thirty five years of experience and inspiration.
