Dennis chose to explore using local materials for woodturning when he moved to Colorado nine years ago. Aspen is a challenging wood for woodturners. Many times, it lacks the beautiful figure that woodturners value. Dennis decided to use turquoise–a native mineral in the mountain west–to enhance the forms. Rock paintings are […]
Note: The ‘How-to’ technical notes for making twistwork are found on the ‘Skills’ tab of this website…. The lacy edge adds lift to this more substantial goblet form. Cover the rim, and you will discover that the lace is not ‘fluff’–it creates the success of the piece. Ornament at its best completes and energizes […]
Dennis loves to teach the canteen, threaded or not, to more advanced turners who enjoy the magic it carries, along with spirits if made of white oak.
The How-To of Twistwork is found on the ‘Skills’ tab of this website. Open twists make a great finial–light and airy, especially in a darker color. Notice that your eye goes to the ends of the bines, where particular care needs to be taken with the cut. Dennis turned this piece in 2001 after studying […]
This piece was made in a demo…sometimes the quickly executed form reveals the skill of the craftsman best of all. Dennis picks up this small oak bowl by Richard Raffan often. The curve of the base is perfect, inside and out. And then the beads–all cut quickly with a gouge; well-matched, clean, and climbing up […]
We often think of Richard Raffan as an expert crafter of useful objects. With this series of forms, Richard has done some counter-intuitive things. First, although they are tall, they are turned sidegrain. And wet. And then the bright red interiors play against the opaque surface finish. Altogether, Dennis has five of these. Working in […]
Allan Batty’s Secret Box appears in many publications, but not often with the three parts shown separately. This piece reminds Dennis of the amazing skill of traditional hardwood and ivory turners, although Allan now uses alternative ivory to make it. When you hold it in your hand, you will understand that good turning uses magic, […]
Chris Stott made this spindle turning of a woman’s form with some very trick off-center turning. Dennis values it for the way that the technique is subordinate to the design objective.
This small vessel made from grassroot fills your hand with wonder. It is extremely light to carry the amount of information it provides about networks, structures, textures, and finishes. Nick finished this one in the Liggett workshop on his first visit to the US.
Stuart Mortimer made this demo goblet quickly from Osage Orange. He considers it a little ‘rough,’ but it shows the Master’s hand in the proportions of base to stem, and stem to cup, as well as the slight taper in the twistwork.