I started turning about 10 years ago while working full-time as an engineer when introduced to turning by my best friend of 40 years, Doc Smith, in the Atlanta area. I was immediately bitten by the bug and pretty quickly bought a Jet Mini lathe and my first tools, discovering immediately that the lathe was the cheapest part of turning. I turned on a limited-time basis until about a year and a half ago, acquiring a Jet 1642 in the meantime. I have loved working with wood since I took shop in Jr High about 60 years ago and have done periodic flat work over the years, building personal furniture and such, and still love flat work, but find turning to be much more inspiring. I was fortunate to grow up with a father who could fix anything except a car and who enjoyed sharing that knowledge with me. I grew up in the Tampa Bay area, after getting my start in Eastern Kentucky and spent substantial time in the Atlanta and Seattle areas before returning to the Tampa Bay area in 2001. I am largely self- and Doc Smith-taught, but have taken one week-long turning course at John C. Campbell. I love trying new things, so turn all kinds of items, vases, platters, hollow forms, bowls, tealight holders, bottle stoppers, etc. and have tried a couple of pens, but find I am a bit short on patience for pen-turning. I am far from satisfied with my skills and have joined the Florida West Coast Woodturners, attended the AAW virtual symposium, and am attending as many virtual demos as I can manage. I am starting a class at the Dunedin Fine Art Center next month to bolster my basic tool-handling skills, as that is where I currently feel the weakest. I also need to learn more about delivering high quality finishes. My shop (photo included) is in a rental space in Gulfport, FL.
I would like to be able to sell enough work to support my turning, but as I am otherwise comfortably retired, do not need to make a living at it. I like to turn both utility and art items and prefer to work with native (or adopted) American woods. I have enclosed a few samples of my work. Every time I open the AAW magazine I find the work shown to be daunting. I am hoping to find another turner in South Pinellas County, FL with whom to collaborate and to share learning opportunities and design ideas.
I would like to be able to sell enough work to support my turning, but as I am otherwise comfortably retired, do not need to make a living at it. I like to turn both utility and art items and prefer to work with native (or adopted) American woods. I have enclosed a few samples of my work. Every time I open the AAW magazine I find the work shown to be daunting. I am hoping to find another turner in South Pinellas County, FL with whom to collaborate and to share learning opportunities and design ideas.
