David Ellsworth

"My first exposure to woodturning began in 1958, when I was fourteen. By the time I received my Master's degree in sculpture in 1973, I had worked in many media including metal, fiber and polyester. But it was my experience working in clay that led me to consider the intimate power of the vessel form. My love for the material of wood returned and by the mid-1975, I had developed a series of tools that allowed me to produce thin-walled hollow forms through a process I called 'blind turning'."

"As both a maker and a teacher, I am constantly reminded of the importance of remaining a student of one's own work. This philosophy has allowed me to remain receptive to many influences that surround me, including objects from other cultures, the infinite variety of the materials I use, and my own personal and spiritual connection to the vessel form. The evolution of my work has therefore taken many directions, each stage of which I see as the foundation for a body of work that is yet to be realized."

"My intent as an artist is to translate thought into form and to create singular statements that evolve through the integration of the material of wood with the process of turning. I prefer to work in series where I can explore ideas, challenge concepts and expand the dimension of my work into a broad visual language. I consider the skill of my craft to be the foundation from which my artwork has evolved, and that the identity of each object is a glimmer of the collective body of my life's work."

Jean-Francois Escoulen

Traditional apprenticeship in woodturning (antique-style table legs, pedestals, etc) Gradually changed to one-off creative pieces.

1982 : awarded recognition as premiere exponent of his craft (Meilleur Ouvrier de France)
1992 : 2nd prize in the Artisa competition. " l'air du temps " Alpexpo trophy in Grenoble (France)
1993 : the city prize of Cagnes sur Mer
1996 : ITE resident (International Turning Exchange) in Philadelphia
Since 1996: takes part in conferences and demonstrations in Europe and the USA.

Great county prize of Arts and crafts. (fr) Wharton Esherick Museum Prize (U.S.A.) Teaches multi-axis turning at Arrowmont school (Tennessee U.S.A.)

"I have been turning since 1972... "

After admiring ornamental works of the 17th and 18th centuries and reproducing pieces from the past, I wanted to find something else: creativity combined with new techniques."

"My work moved towards eccentric turning. The research is never-ending and is a constant pleasure. Sometimes the most unusual pieces reveal my traditional training."

Ed Kelle

"After graduating from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 with degrees in Management and Design, I ventured into the world of fine art, focusing on painting. In the following years, I participated in many local shows while developing my own style. I have received two grants from the New York State Foundation for the Arts. At the same time I also began sculpting in stone, an experience that has taken my art into the third dimension.

During the mid 90's, I entered the field of Graphic Design, specializing in digital retouching and package design. One decade later, I found that I had become detached from the creative process of working with my hands. After discovering wood turning, I have found the passion that had been missing.

Nothing compares to the experience of taking a piece of wood and watching a shape develop while revealing the secrets nature has hidden in it's grain. Every piece is a new adventure and an opportunity to produce a one-of-a-kind object that is missing from every day life.

Each day at the lathe is an exciting adventure, as I push myself to develop my art further and explore new directions, while drawing on the knowledge base of all my previous life experiences."

Bonnie Klein

"I turn for the love of the creative process. I am addicted to discovery, progress, and the fact that perfection is forever elusive but, as I strive for it, yesterday’s challenges become the basic skills of tomorrow. I love the distinct smell of the various woods, the sound of the shavings as they are cut by a sharp tool, and how quickly a form appears from a block of material. In the past I have enjoyed many other crafts - spinning, knitting, weaving, basketry, etc, but not only for the tactile sensations. The aroma of spinning "in the grease", the smell of wet reeds for a basket, the sound of a shuttle or the clicking of knitting needles all contributed to the satisfaction of making something. Experimenting with turning unusual materials such as bone, plastic, tagua nuts, aluminum and horn has led to many more interesting sensations for the eyes, ears, hands and nose."

"I have been making things for as far back as I can remember, but when I discovered woodturning over 20 years ago it became an obsession that has not gone away. It started when my daughter wanted a doll house. During the process of building, lighting and furnishing, I became mostly interested in the tools. This may have a lot to do with the fact that my father was a builder. Over 15 years ago, I designed and began producing a small woodturning lathe. My lathe has a 5" swing and is 12" between centers. A wide range of accessories is available including chucks, tools, a threading jig and indexing plate. This was a new beginning for what I like to call "small scale turning", and what has developed into an area of its own in the woodturning world, with tools, classes, projects and even gallery shows."

Alan Lacer

Alan Lacer has been involved in the turning field for over thirty years as a turner, teacher, writer, exhibition coordinator, demonstrator and past president of the American Association of Woodturners. His work has appeared in a number of regional and national exhibitions. Alan has been a regular instructor and demonstrator of the craft—having worked in all 50 states as well as 4 foreign countries. His writings have covered technical aspects of woodturning, many specific projects, stories related to both contemporary and historical woodturning and the long turning traditions of Japan and Germany. He has also produced three videos on his own, with two of them winning a total of four national awards. In 1999 the American Association of Woodturners awarded him their Lifetime Honorary Member Award for his contributions to the field. 

Stuart Mortimer

"I love wood and I am always on the look out for the unusual piece exotic or home grown, the hunt is part of the fun. I examine each piece very carefully before using it. Identifying or bringing out hidden features that will enhance the final piece is a joy. Destroying a hidden feature during preparation or turning can be disappointing and unforgivable. "

"I am also constantly looking for very plain freshly cut wet wood that has no features or blemishes whatsoever. This type of material is very predictable and allows me to produce flawless and stable lightweight turnings. I like simple flowing artistic shapes, in spite of this I also enjoy the extra challenge of constructing works from several turnings. Retaining flow and design with constructed work is more technically challenging. This gives my work more versatility and myself a wider licence to explore new ideas and techniques. My wife is my strongest critic her feelings as well as my own to a particular piece is normally a good barometer as to how it will be received by others. The conception of new ideas, design and techniques quite often develop from disappointment. Attaining perfection in wood is illusive but I continually strive for this goal, I enjoy each attempt at the impossible?"

Jennifer Shirley

Jennifer Shirley lives in Indianapolis where she is a full time Director of the evening news on a local television station. Her passion for woodturning has given her opportunities participate in juried art shows and competitions. She is a contributing writer for Woodturning Design Magazine as well as being a participant in several Woodworkers’ Journal articles. Jennifer is also a frequent studio class assistant and instructor at Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Franklin, Indiana.

See more of Jennifer Shirley's works at www.jennifer-shirley.com.

Jacques Vesery

Jacques Vesery is a Wood Artist from Damariscotta Maine, striving to create an illusion of reality in his work. . Prior to becoming a full time Artist; he served as a Submariner in the Navy, drove a Zamboni in Hawaii, was a Scrimshander (Scrimshaw Artist) on Cape Cod and worked as a Forest Ranger in Northern New Jersey. Using naturefor much of his inspiration , Jacques' vision begins with the way nature is repeated within the the "golden mean" or "divine proportions". His creativity comes from pattern and form more than actuality itself. Jacques has demonstrated/ taught his techniques and lectured on design in France, England, Canada and 23 US states at such locations as Journees Mondiales du Tournage D'art Sur Bois Congres, Loughborough University, Anderson Ranch, Arrowmont and Haystack Mt. School. Jacques' work is in several public and private collections including the Detroit Institute of Art, the Contemporary Art Museum of Honolulu, Yale University Art Gallery, Celestial Seasoning and Northwest Airlines Corporate collections. Currently, he serves as chair of the Professional Outreach Program's Advisory committee for the American Association of Woodturners and is on the board of directors for the Collectors of Wood Art. Jacques is also a member of the New England Sculptors Association. In his free time he enjoys cycling, hiking, ice skating, cooking and gardening. Jacques, his wife Minda, and their sons Isaac and Jonah enjoy living, working, and playing in Maine....”the way life should be”.