How It's Made

With the goal to create work that is wondrous and pleasing to view, each piece is made by hand using a variety of techniques.

In solid turnings, the wood blank unique features define its shape and proportions. John transforms the wood blank into an artistic form showcasing the best features of the wood.   

In segmented turnings, John applies geometry, engineering and design skills as he assembles pieces of wood after they have been cut and shaped using a variety of techniques. These pieces require the geometries to be precise and often involve hundreds or thousands of pieces and months of work.

It all starts with a piece of a newly fallen tree that is roughed out with a chainsaw, refined on the lathe, seasoned and painstakingly finished to a high luster. Other times the process begins as a segmented idea that starts at the drafting board, continues to the table saw and eventually ends up on the lathe.