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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

Fragile X Carved Vase is a gift for Dr. Randi Hagerman. She is a top research doctor in the at the University of California at Davis. Her team is doing state of the art genetic research. I am a volunteer at the Mind Institute in their research program. I carry a gene that creates a specific protein. Isolating this genetic material shows strong evidence towards successful treatments and potential cures. It is heartbreaking to see these children with limited mental develo

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

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

Ambrosia Wood Vase is handmade on a wood lathe and features Ambrosia Beetle markings from where the insect invades the maple tree.  During their lifespan they eat the wood fibers and leave behind these incredible markings.  Every log displays unique markings.  Also, visible are holes usually at the end of a line where the beette enters and leaves the wood. Eventually these bugs will kill the tree. Gift Ideas Picture a beautiful vase like this with fruits as the centerpiece of

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

Norfolk Island Pine Species Crazy Face Vase in Norfolk Island Pine wood.  This vase is approximately 6 inches in diameter by 4.5 inches high.  This wood has so much personality.  The red spots are tree knots where the branches came off the tree trunk. Very often these red spots will look like eyes staring out of the wood. Branches grow in concentric layers.  It think this is the only tree that does this. Other trees grow branches randomly. I am totally in love with this wood

Where It Started Vase began my woodturning journey. I love this wood and it is the reason I am a wood artist today. Each piece is full of surprises with crazy color variations from light to dark. The six red spots are where the branches radiate. It is the only tree where branches grow in concentric layers. Other trees grow branches in a random order. This bowl size 10 inch diameter by 4.5 inches tall. Where It Started Vase sold within the first hour of viewing. Thank yo

Matisse Falling Leaves Vase is inspiration from the art of Matisse during the period he could no longer paint and set about creating his art by cutting paper forms with a pair of scissors. This vase is 12 1/2 inches tall. I carve the  leaves from Apple wood and which sit proud by approximately 3/8 of an inch and then painted.  There is remaining  a section of the bark to retain the look of the original tree trunk. I find that I go back to the art of Matisse often for his flow

Biker Chick Vase is a piece in my zipper series. Here I am after the Biker Chick look of black leather, metal studs and zippers on a wooden art vase. This vase is a part of a female theme  series of vases that feature zippers and other fashion components. The idea for this series began with Pretty Woman.  It was an accidental design opportunity. I was looking to find a solution for a crack in the vaseas it was too pretty to go into the firewood pile.  Out of the blue I had th

Pretty Woman Zipper Vase is one on my favorite pieces and the first in the zipper series.   A large and beautiful vase developed a crack from top to bottom.  Needles to say this is very upsetting and I put the vase on the shelf.  One day it came to me to add a zipper and take advantage of the design opportunity.  Very happy with the result I decided to continue to develop the zipper concept with a series of feminine forms. The Creative Process It fascinates me how an idea can

Item Description A swarm of colorful night time Dragonflies decorate this Painted Dragonfly Vase. The size is 9 1/2 inches tall with 6 1/2 diameter at top tapering to 3 1/2 inches at base. Pyrography and iridescent paints decorate this vase.  This item sold on the first day of showing. Process A vase like Painted Dragonfly Vase is more difficult to make than a bowl because of the depth and the ability to reach the base with available tools.  Additionally a deep piece will vib

Description Genesis Wood Vase is a 12 inch tall cherry vase featuring symbols representing water, land and life.  Pyrography techniques are used to decorate this vase. Starting at the base is the symbol for water.  The middle section represents land.  The top section is life with DNA strands. Process A vase like this Genesis Wood Vase is more difficult to make than a bowl because of the depth and the ability to reach the bottom with standard tools. In addition, a deep piece m

Description Shot Through The Heart Vase is wood from a plum tree outside our dining room window until it died from insect damage. Notice the heart image with the hole with a natural opening from the root formation.  I knew I had to find a way to preserve a piece of this tree that we looked at every day. The size is 7 inch diameter by 8 inches tall. The style of this vase is a Hollow Form. which means the opening at the top is smaller than the diameter of the vase.  Special te

Culture Issues Crisscross Apple Sauce Vase Inspiration for this piece is from Native American pottery.  One day playing with my four year old granddaughter I asked her to sit Indian Style for a photo. Her reply is that I should not say “Sit Indian Style” and that the correct saying is to sit “Crisscross Apple Sauce.” Therefore this is not a Native American Style Vase, but a Crisscross Apple Sauce Vase.  I am still not sure I understand why this correction is taking place in o

Description This Lost Wood Vase begins as an assembly of three layers of wood. On the outside are two layers of Sapele and in the center is a waste block of pine. I turn the assembly and then separate the pieces to remove the waste block. I glue the good wood back together and the result is a oval shape. The size is 6 x 6 x 4.5 inches. Lost Wood Process Lost Wood Vase is a hollow from style and credit belongs to Art Liestman who teaches this technique known as the “Lost Wood

Description Wood Carved Poppy Flower is a Bradford Pear that features turning, carving and staining. Cup burrs are tools familiar to jewelry makers form the pollen field and a dry brush applies the gold.  I struggled with this piece for almost a year. I would work on it and not be happy with the texture or the color.  It would remain on the bench for months at a time. I was ready to abandon the project when professional turner, Keith Tompkins encouraged me to continue. The si

Description Climbing Vines Vase is a thin wall maple vase features a simple pyrography vine growing up along the sides of the vase.  The size is 4 inches tall by 3 inches in diameter.  This was a transition piece for me.  My goal was to make a form with a very thin wall.  Up to this point my bowls and vases had thicker walls.  A new turner wants every piece to be something.  At some point a Maker must be ready to take chances to expand boundaries in order to improve the skill

Description This Conga Drum Vase is end grain of an apple log. The size is 10 by 6.5 tapering to 4 inches at the base. Each section features a different pyrography symbol. One quarter of the surface remains untouched leaving a river shape in the grain of the wood. This piece is made very early during my wood turning journey has three raised rings, pyrography for texture and black stain.  Here is another wood vase with pyrography symbols. Genesis Wood Vase. Pyrography Pyrograp