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Allan Adler the Jewelry Maker This Allan Adler Bracelet Vase combines the jeweler’s bracelet with my wood vase. Allan Adler from Hollywood was known as the “Jeweler to the Stars” in the 1930’s. Whenever I come across his bracelets I try to purchase them. Then I integrate them into my Woodturning Art. I turn a wood vase with a recess to accept the silver bracelet as a feature to the vase. Here is a little history on this artist. This Bracelet Vase features a silver rim arou

This beautiful Albert LeCoff Retirement Artbook book features over 50 artist gifts to Albert LeCoff upon his retirement in 2019. He is the founder of The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia, PA. This gallery focuses on wood art with a museum of over 1200 unique handmade wood art items. Albert is one of the most influential people responsible for developing Woodturning into a recognizable Art Form. It is an honor that my gift to Albert is in the Albert LeCoff Retirement

Description This Universe Wooden Vase is turned on a wood lathe. Once the wood vase form is complete I will spend more time finishing the vase to tell a story. I cut a recess into the top rim and hand place each color pencil into the cutout. Then, I flood the rim with tinted resin to fill the voids and seal the pencils in place. I go back to the lathe to trim the pencils and bring the piece to life. Now I add graphic elements using pyrography and the airbrush to complete

Pretty Woman Zipper Vase is the first in a series of vases with a zipper. The idea came about as a design opportunity when the drying wood vase developed a serious crack. I was not able to give up on the vase because I saw something special developing. I placed the vase on a shelf for several months where I could see it every day. Then one day the solution came to me. I would finish the vase with a zipper. Creative Process The creative process fascinates me on how an ide

What is a Hollow Form? Dragonfly Vase a Hollow Form Style art piece. Hollow Form is a style of woodturning where the opening at the top is smaller than the diameter of the piece. The concept was developed by David Ellsworth in the early 1970’s. David is a student of ceramics and took an interest in woodturning. In ceramics it is relatively easy to form a small hole at the top of a piece. The artist can manipulate the clay upwards and close the opening. David sought a meth

Description Introducing the Zipper Girls Vase Trio. These pieces are the core of the zipper series which began with Pretty Woman. Each vase represents a unique character, personality and culture in feminine society. Twisted Sister named after the Rock and Roll band is about black leather and metal stud fashion. Skinny Jeans is a tall leggy vase in tight fitting faux denim fabric. Biker Chick represents the Harley Motorcycle culture with leather and steel findings. Design O

Description This Award Winning Colored Pencil Vase features several techniques to achieve the bone color surface. The process includes wood turning, carving, painting and bleaching. It was awarded Second Place Award from the North Eastern Woodworking Symposium 2017 in Saratoga New York. This is an annual regional event for wood art makers. Process The process began with wood turning the wooden vase. Next I insert color pencils around the body and carve the stipple texture ar

Description As with much of my art, I derive inspiration from Nature. Plants, leaves and seed pods are a consist source for inspiration. I admire the delicate ferns that come up every Spring in our garden. The delicate lace like leaves intrigue me. Then another favorite is the Ginkgo leaf. Is there anyone who does not like the shape of a Ginkgo leaf? I often challenge myself to recreate these wonders of Mother Nature. This Fern and Ginkgo Vase embody my favorite plants.

Matisse Inspiration Matisse has been a source of inspiration for his flowing lines and organic shapes. This Matisse Inspired Falling Leaves Vase is dedicated to his art and what I have learned from studying his pieces. Here, I am borrowing what he was doing with paper stencils when he could no longer use a brush due to illness. This vase is the my first Matisse piece. I turned a large wooden vase on a lathe. With a pyrography tool I burned in a stipple texture and the outli

Center for Art In Wood Museum LeCoff Retirement Gift is a vase for my friend Albert LeCoff, the founder of the Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia. I don’t think there is anyone you has done more than Albert to promote Wood Art. I am forever grateful for his support. The Center for Art in Wood is a museum with the largest collection of wood art in the world. I made a visit to the museum during my first year of turning. Albert was at the front desk and welcomed me. We

Description I draw much of my inspiration from Nature. This is a series of tall Painted Wood Butterfly Vases. These Painted Wood Butterfly Vases are airbrushed and then finished with a protective coating. I have an interest in adding texture and color to my wood turnings. There are those who call themselves “wood purists” and they are against adding decorative techniques to wood. They actually get quite emotional about this. I don’t understand how they have come to such

Hollow Form Style Dragonfly Hollow Form Vase is a wood turning style. It is where the opening is significantly smaller than the diameter of the vase. The process to make a hollow form takes a lot of practice in order to develop the skills to make this shape. The artist is removing wood from the inside of the piece with little or no visual assistance. Special hook shape tools assist in peeling away layers of wood. This requires constant measuring to maintain a uniform wal

Falling Leaves Autumn Vase is a turned and airbrushed vase featuring oak and maple leaves. I draw often draw inspiration from Nature. This is part of series of tall Airbrush Vases. For a very long time I have an interest in adding texture or color to my forms. There are “wood purists” who are against adding decorative techniques to wood and they get quite emotional about this. I don’t understand how they come to this position. For me wood is a canvas. What if there were canv

Day of the Dead Vase is a vase for a group exhibition. The event was in Traverse City, Michigan celebrating Dia de los Muertos. This is a wonderful Mexican and Latin American Festival welcoming returning souls. Coco is a terrific Disney animation movie about this holiday. The vase is Red Cedar wood with a top rim with skulls in resin. The side walls feature butterflies which represent the departed souls. This is the first theme exhibition that I participated in. It is

Sometimes a good shape needs something more. The form of this Wooden Butterfly Vase wooden vase was bland and boring. It needed color. I began to teach myself Airbrushing as I could not find a place to take lessons. It was a very painful experience with lots of failures. I had to hunker down and spend weeks figuring it out. Adjusting the spray, mixing the colors and most importantly keeping the airbrush from clogging. Finally, I was able to make progress and now use th

Colored Pencil Rim Vase This stunning wood Colored Pencil Vase features a row of colored pencils around the top rim and side walls. When the vase is on the lathe I carve a recess into the top rim. Then I place color pencils sections into that cavity. The pencils are then coated with clear epoxy resin. The color pencil addition adds to the uniqueness and character to the piece. My artist signature is on the base. Are you are constantly misplacing your keys and phone? The

Four Vase – Commission is a set of four vases with colored pencil rims and pyrography decoration that I made for family honoring their dad. A Cherry Tree grew at the dad’s grave site. The tree became very large and began to cause damage in the area. The son made a request of the cemetery officials in allowing him to get logs from the tree. His desire was to have meaningful family heirlooms created from the wood. I got a phone call requesting that I create items for him, his

Ambrosia Hollow Form Bowl is a Woodturning Style. It requires skill and experience to remove most of the interior wood through a small opening. Master Woodturner, David Ellsworth invented the Ellsworth Style Hollow Form for woodturning.  Previously it was a form that glass blowers and ceramists practiced. David, a student of ceramics thought it would be possible to make this shape with wood. The challenge is that woodturning is a process that removes material. Ceramics and gl

Zipper Vases Honorable Mention at the Totally Turning Symposium 2016.  This is a prestigious award at an annual woodworker event in Saratoga, NY.  Twisted Sister, Skinny Jeans and Biker Chick receive recognition in the Instant Gallery. Three sister wood vase were exhibited in the Instant Gallery. They are handmade on a lathe, carved and painted.  Biker Chick Zipper Vase features a zipper, steel studs and findings. This vase captures the Harley Davidson motorcycle culture. Ski

Zipper Series Skinny Jeans is the fourth piece in my zipper series. Here I am able to achieve the denim look and texture on wood. This Vase is a part of a series of vases that feature a zipper and other elements about fashion and female themes. The idea for this series started with Pretty Woman.  The idea came by finding a solution to a crack in the finished vase.  Too pretty to be delegated to the firewood pile I would need to find a solution. Out of the blue I had the idea