Woodturners share their time, knowledge,
and equipment to help others learn
A woodturner crafts attractive,
functional art much the same
way a potter does, using wood
and a lathe instead of clay and a
wheel. Both artists see potential
beauty in the medium, the pos-sibility
of a complete transforma-tion.
Like all artists, woodturners
develop a keen ability to envision
the crafted piece in raw material.
Many woodturners focus on
the grain when selecting wood;
others see the possibilities in
firewood castoffs, rotten logs,
or random pieces of gnarled
driftwood. Using tools held with
bare hands and heavy machinery
to turn the wood, experienced
craftsmen skillfully execute this
transformation.
The hard work begins by cut-ting
the logs into manageable
pieces. Then the lathe becomes
the workhorse, and the gouges
and scrapers become the tools of
the artist.
BY CAROLE WIRSZYLA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLISON POTTER
43
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