| THE ARTIST |
ABOUT ME I am a self-taught woodturner that has been turning for about twenty years. My interest in segmentation began after reading an article in Fine WoodWorking magazine. After turning my first segmented bowl, I knew I was hooked. Only in the last few years has my life allowed me to turn seriously. I enjoy segmented turning because of the complexity and unlimited possibilities it offers. I love to see my ideas take shape as the different species of wood are cut and arranged into bowls. It will take anywhere from a week for a simple design to a month for the most intricate design to be completed. Sometimes I will let a partially done bowl sit for a few months if I am not completely satisfied with the way it is turning out. I will keep looking at it as I work on other pieces trying to visualize what I need to make the piece work. FAMILY I have been married for twenty-eight years with three wonderful children and four great little grandkids. My wife Kim and I live in rural southeast Indiana not far from the mighty Ohio River. I worked for twenty- five years as an automatic screw machinist. Because of health reasons I was forced to get out of the profession and returned to college for nursing and now work as such in a local hospital. My Shop My shop is 24x20 feet with an 8x10 foot "clean room" for finishing, drafting, and my electronics. Because of my machining and engineering background I have the luxury of designing and building my own machines and fixtures for my specific needs. I mainly use a lathe I built twenty years ago but also have three other lathes I use for different tasks from time to time. My Work I don’t use fancy computer programs to draw or design my work. That is done in my head and at the drafting table and evolves as the turning progresses. All my pieces are one of a kind except for the occasional piece that someone has seen and contracted for another of the same design. The second piece will never be exactly the same, therefore each piece is different in its own way. Many of my pieces are inspired by ancient Indian designs and symbols. I am amazed by the simple but captivating use of color and angles the native Americans used to decorate their textiles and pottery. Materials I use domestic woods from local sources as well as exotic woods from all around the world. Some of the most interesting woods are from local sources that probably would have ended up in someones fireplace if not rescued to become a lasting piece of beautiful art. The wood is used in its natural state, no dyes or coloring except for thin veneers used for highlights and accents. A list of some commonly used woods, Domestic Exotic Maple Bloodwood Walnut Bubinga Cherry Canarywood Hickory Wenge Various fruit species Padouk
|
GREG'S
TURNINGS
TURNINGS
 |  |  |  |  |  |
| | | | | |