About

An Expert Woodworker Constructing Innovative Designs

Artist Statement

Wood turning has opened many doors for me and has allowed me to meet some incredible people from all over the world. I have never considered myself to be an artist, but with the encouragement from some, and challenges from others, I have reached levels in wood turning that I never thought I would. 

My current work focuses on the genre of Basket Illusion, where I am working with wood, and pyrography and color to emulate the woven baskets of the Native cultures. I look at their designs for inspiration but bring my own heart and soul into my designs. I also get ideas for designs from patterns in nature in the world around us. 

I do still turn a lot of hollow form pieces, primarily using wood that has natural voids or other imperfections. I think those flaws add some challenge to the turning process, add some mystery to the turning.

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Artist Bio

Growing up on a farm in Eastern Iowa, I have always been surrounded by trees and wood. Earning a B.A. from the University of Northern Iowa and an M.S. from Colorado State in Industrial Technology Education led to nearly 30 years of teaching woodworking to students of all ages.

I have given woodturning workshops throughout the Western U.S., have demonstrated at several Woodturning Symposiums, and still teach woodturning classes on a regular basis.

My focus on artistic wood turning began in the early 1990s, after being challenged and inspired by some wood turning legends, who are now my close friends. My current work reflects the time that I lived in, and returned to New Mexico, and spent a lot of time exploring both ancient and contemporary Pueblo cultures.

Through wood turning, I have met some incredible people, and have shared some very memorable experiences.

Education

1972 Graduated Monticello High School, Monticello, Iowa
1976 B.A. Degree Industrial Arts, Univ. of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa
1980 M.S. Degree Industrial Sciences, Colorado State Univ., Ft. Collins, CO

Juried Art Shows

2004 – Present Sculpture in the Park, Loveland, Colorado
2000 – Present Western Spirit Art Show, Cheyenne, Wyoming
2018 – Present Art for the Sangres, Westcliffe, Colorado
2018, 2020 Governor’s Art Show, Loveland, Colorado

Professional Affiliations

1994 – Present Rocky Mountain Woodturners Club
1995 – Present American Association of Woodturners
2019 – Present New Mexico Woodturners Club

Magazine Publications

Feb. 2018 American Woodturner
June 2018 Woodturning Magazine

Staff Instructor

2014 – Present Woodcraft, Loveland, Colorado
2019 – Present Craft Supplies USA, Provo, Utah

Professional Demonstration Experience

  • 2020 – American Association of Woodturners Symposium, Louisville, KY
  • 2019 – Craft Supplies USA, Provo, UT
  • 2019 – New Mexico Woodturners Club, Albuquerque, NM
  • 2019 – El Camino Woodturners Guild, El Camino, CA
  • 2019 – San Diego Woodturners Club, San Diego, CA
  • 2018 – Worland Woodturners Club, Worland, WY
  • 1995-Present – Rocky Mountain Woodturning Symposium, Loveland, CO
  • 1999, 2017 – North Dakota Woodturners Symposium, Bismark, ND
  • 2017 – Front Range Woodturners, Denver CO
  • 2017 – Pikes Peak Woodturners Club, Colorado Springs, CO
  • 2017 – Pueblo Woodturners Club, Pueblo, CO
  • 2012,2015,2017 – Utah Woodturning Symposium
  • 1994 – Present – Rocky Mountain Woodturners Club, Loveland, CO