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Burl Wood Bowls This Wooden Oak Burl Bowl has incredible character. A Burl is the bump sometimes growing on a tree trunk. It is rather ugly from the outside, but the inside offers amazing opportunities for the artist. This Wooden Oak Burl Bowl has tons of character with the texture and colors that are unique to oak burl. When you notice a round bump on a tree that is a burl. Most likely the cause is when the tree suffered insert damage or environmental damage and the tree

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

Bog Oak wood is the oldest and most expensive wood available. These Bog Oak Wood Pieces are from a log dating back 2000 years. Just think about that. Bog Oak is perhaps the most expensive wood in the world. The salvaging process to bring the material to market is extremely costly. Oak is typically the species that survives buried under riverbeds for thousands of years. Deprived of oxygen the wood remains intact. It absorbs minerals, turns black and becomes very dense. Th

Handmade Ambrosia Bowl This Ambrosia Display Bowl is of the Maple species. It is handmade on a wood lathe. The Ambrosia Beetles enter the wood and create these wonderful markings. Each bowl has different markings. I see a crab crawling on the beach. The markings are from insect damage as the beetles infest the tree. As they eat the tree fibers they leave behind these brown markings. The dots in the markings are holes where the insects enter and exit the wood. Eventually

This Platter developed a boo-boo so I fixed it with leather stitches. Now this First Aid Stitches For Platter is an art piece. The story behind this piece is that I submitted it to a gallery. The director noticed that there was a hairline fracture. It did not go all the way through the wood, but the director said clients would resist purchasing it with the appearance of a crack. I took it home, drilled a few holes, added a few leather stitches and it has now found a happ

Cherry Tree Wood Becomes Family Heirlooms Natural Edge Family Commission is a set of four natural edge bowls that I made for family honoring their dad. A Cherry Tree grew at the grave site. Eventually, the tree became too large and began to cause damage in the area. The son spoke with the cemetery officials into allowing him to secure logs from the tree. He understands that meaningful family heirlooms can be created from the wood. Natural Edge Wood Bowls I received a phone c

This Acorn and Resin Vase is a casting of acorns in blue resin. I then turn the block on a wood lathe into a vase. Mother Nature and her products are often a source of inspiration for my art. I experiment and produce many pieces featurIng plant life, trees, seed pods and leaves. Another source of inspiration is the sea. There is a series of sea urchins and starfish. I cast seed pods and plant products into jewelry using acorns, pinecones, cinnamon sticks and anise star

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

Grieving and Healing Platter is a commission for a family honoring the passing of their dad. A Cherry Tree grew at the dad’s grave site. The tree became very large and the cemetery decided the tree had to be removed. The son made a request to officials to allow him to have the logs from the tree. His desire was to make some meaningful family heirlooms from the wood. I got a phone call requesting that I make items for him, his mother, brother and sister. This will be a chall

Commission Art Genesis Wood Art Platter is a commission piece for a family honoring their departed father. The theme of this piece is the Story of Life. The wood is cherry from a tree growing at the gravesite of the father. The cemetery notified the family that the tree had to be removed as it was damaging nearby gravesites. The son spoke with management to allow him to secure large logs from the tree for family heirlooms. Genesis Wood Platter I received a phone call ask

These Colored Pencil Rim Vases feature a band of color pencils that are visual from both the top and sides of the vases. I cut a recess in the top rim and glue in the pencils. The rim then receives a dome of clear resin epoxy which highlights the colors. Secondary operations include pyrography which is a wood burning technique. A red hot wire is placed into the wood and a brand is made. I also use an airbrush to add color to the vases and finally a protective finish. The

Concept Development I didn’t think I could make a shape like this Jumbo Wood Toy Jack on a Lathe in one piece. The process is to change the axis three times. This opens many new opportunities. When the idea came to me to make a Giant Jack I had to figure out how to make this piece. It took several months before I found the solution to produce a multi axis piece like this. I woke up one morning and the process was clear in my head. I went to the studio and made the piece th

Starfish Wooden Bowl is the first piece of wood art in my Starfish series and also remains my favorite. It is a bowl that I turned with thin walls and then went about carving the starfish. Inspiration From Mother Nature Inspiration for Starfish Wooden Bowl is Mother Nature.  I discovered a bunch of starfish on the beach.  This was one of the lucky days while searching for beach treasures there was a reward.  I gathered them up and took them home anticipating that I would be

When a grandchild turns age two I make them a chair based on their interests. This is Charlotte’s Adirondack Chair . This Adirondack Style Chair is for Charlotte who loves music. This is the fourth of five chairs that I built. Charlotte is non stop movement and talking. She loves music, singing and dancing. Charlotte’s Adirondack Chair is all about music. The components are made on the bandsaw and the lathe. Each chair is challenging project and so enormous fun to make. T

This is Mia’s Fantasy Chair. When a grandchild turns two, I build an Adirondack Style theme chair based on their current interest. This is the first of five chairs that I built. Mia is a bright kid with a big imagination. She is constantly chatting, exploring and has an interest in nature, especially animals. Mia’s Fantasy Chair features many flora and animal elements made on the bandsaw and lathe. Each chair is challenging and fun to make. The kids looks forward to their

Colorful Wood Spinning Tops are always fun to make and by adding color and texture each piece is unique. Wood Spinning Tops For All Ages No one can resist Colorful Wood Spinning Tops? Tops appeal to every age probably because at some point in our childhood we had one or we wanted one. I make wood tops during transition periods between projects when I need a rest. This does not mean that making a top is totally stress free. Not every top will work and some work much better tha

US Constitution Ring Holder is a wood turned square platter that is laser engraved with the opening statement of the most important document of the United States of America. There is a small round recess in the center that serves as a ring holder for your valuable jewelry on a desk or a nightstand. The process is to turn a square block on a wood lathe with sloping edges on the underside of the platter. I then laser etch the image of the document. This is a great centerpiec

Public Domain Artwork for Artists Art Nouveau Ring Holder is an engraving of a vintage Victorian print.  Designs like these are available in the public domain in vintage books and on wall paper coverings for home decor. The design is laser cut onto a wood platter with a small cavity to hold jewelry on a nightstand. The process is to laser cut this decorative artwork onto a wood platter.  I turn a square block on a lathe creating the sloping edges on the underside of the platt

Laser Etch Japanese Drawing Onto Wood Koi Fish Ring Holder is a wood turning and laser cut wooden platter.  I turn a square block on the lathe creating the sloping edges on the underside of the bowl. The piece is  laser etched with vintage Japanese drawing and then I paint by hand. There is a small recess hole in the center to hold a piece of fine jewelry. This is a great centerpiece or display piece.  Inspiration for this Koi Fish Ring Holder is from an historic Japanese dra

Dual Purpose Desk Accessory Bottle Opener Paper Weight is an all in one item by Alan Adler. This dual purpose items can be left on your desk. It is both a paperweight and the bottle opener that is nice enough to leave out all the time. On a lathe I make a semi sphere that features pyrography symbols. Then I apply color stains and a protective finish. These are great conversation pieces and better looking than a church-key. Pyrography is a branding technique where symbols