Here I am, happy in my shop building unique furniture pieces that intrigue me.
I have been working with wood for most of my life; my earliest projects were large things like decks and sheds. My first “real” project was my workbench, which I still use every day in my shop; from there I progressed to a dovetailed chest, and then couldn’t seem to stop. I was originally self-taught, then tutored by the local “cabinetmaker” here in town. I built the cabinets, oak entry door, bar, and trim for the home my wife Karen and I share. A few years after the house project, I built the 1600 square foot shop/studio that we spend our days in…Karen making jewelry and me making furniture.
My first real furniture project, a cherry and birdseye maple nightstand with drawer, remains a personal treasure though it is now approaching a quarter century old. I trained at British Columbia’s “Inside Passage School of Fine Woodworking” and follow the teachings and woodworking philosophies of master craftsman Jim Krenov and IP School founder Robert van Norman (a student of Krenov’s). I began designing my own pieces in 2008 when I made commercial displays for Karen’s’ jewelry creations. Furniture building, initially a hobby, got out of control and I had to start selling pieces so I could build more. I still enjoy this second career though I have built and sold many dozens of pieces since starting in 2008. I get so much joy from designing and building unique native wood fine furniture pieces in my own workshop; the processes involved and the outcome.
I am a juried member of the Lithia Artisan’s Guild in Ashland, Oregon and show my work occasionally at their creekside venue during the Shakespeare festival season. Karen and I also travel to and participate in western U.S. art shows during the spring, summer and holiday months.
I do several commission orders a year and enjoy making deliveries of custom pieces to those who appreciate my work. I enjoy the creative liberty afforded me by the business Karen and I share. I continue to scale up the design complexity and focus on unique and challenging pieces; I build a few dozen furniture and accessory pieces a year.
I love working with wood; recognizing its natural beauty and diversity of color, grain, character, and even its scent… I enjoy the craft, especially the design, layout, and cutting of components from the wood slab, the feel of hand tools making smooth, flowing shapes. I appreciate my shop; everything about our studio and work… and the shows… I plan to keep doing this as long as I am able.
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