Artist Statement
I am a retired Police Sergeant from Miami, Florida, who transitioned to woodturning in 1998 upon moving to the mountains of North Carolina in 2009. Specializing in highly carved, textured, and colored wood vessels from local trees, my pieces often deceive viewers, resembling ceramics or glass. Originating from a fascination with wood at local art shows, I joined the South Florida Woodturners Guild in 1998, setting the stage for my lifelong journey from traditional woodturning to an art form pushing boundaries. In 2016, transformative experiences with renowned artists Jacques Vesery and Nick Agar propelled me toward a new direction, treating wood as a blank canvas. My process involves intricate sketches, carving, burning, and painting to bring out organic textures. While some attempts find their fate in the fireplace, my vessels and sculptures, never functional, are celebrations of color, texture, and form, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the warmth and tactile qualities of wood with the visual impact of a painting. Influenced significantly by Jacques Vesery, my continuous learning from workshops and seminars has been crucial. My Oneway 2436 lathe, Foredom and Master-Carver tools, OZ+ micro-motors, and Graeme Priddle’s pyrography tool contribute to my creative process. Embracing the woodturning community, my advice for turners is to seek formal training early, a transformative experience that might change your life.
