Resources

I've always been in awe of the melodic arrangement of nature and the inspiration it provides architectural visionaries.

Working with wood allows me to unveil unique, visible histories of the trees when they were alive. I love that, as a wood based artist, I get to encounter those stories and showcase them long after the roots have deteriorated and new seedlings grow in their wake.

Let’s get nerdy together and bridge the gap between modern living and caring for our environment! Here are some of my favorite print resources to share with folks:

• Wood: Craft, Culture, History - Harvey Green

• Identifying Wood - R. Bruce Hoadley

• Understanding Wood - R. Bruce Hoadley

• Spalted Wood: The History, Science, and Art of a Unique Material - Dr. Seri C. Robinson

• Living With Wood: A guide for toymakers, hobbyists, crafters, & parents - Dr. Seri C. Robinson

What is Wood Turning?

At its most basic, woodturning is any creation involving a wood lathe (and often many, many other tools along the way) and wood or other product that can be "turned." Using chisels designed for the lathe, woodturners are able to create whatever they can dream up, essentially. Pioneers of the artform in the U.S., Mel and Mark Lindquist have been known to make their own lathes and even chainsaw at the lathe to achieve desired looks and shapes. Woodturning is dangerous business and should be performed at your skill level, and ALWAYS with the proper safety gear (safety glasses, face shield, dust mask, etc.).

Locally-Sourced Materials

The majority of the pieces I create are made with locally-sourced materials. I’m a native to Oregon, still living in my childhood hometown, so the wood I utilize is usually from other natives to the area. This includes Oregon white oak (Quercus garryana), Bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), Black walnut (Juglans nigra), Pacific madrone (Arbutus menziesii), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), Oregon myrtle (Umbellularia californica), and Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia) to name a few!

Sourcing local has a long list of benefits that are wide reaching, benefiting me (the artist and business owner), YOU (the shopper), AND the environment (we can call Mother Nature the supplier in this case!).

Without getting too into the nitty gritty details of business management, choosing locally-sourced materials minimizes the final cost for the buyer. You’ve probably heard of the term “supply chain.” Basically it’s all of the steps that take place between production and distribution of a product. When you use local materials, those costs are cut exponentially, getting your one-of-a-kind product into your hands quickly without sacrificing quality.