My Story
Growing up, I was always fascinated by the time my Dad spent in his shop. And while I didn't yet understand it, I knew that he got a tremendous amount of enjoyment from it - by working with his hands, by creating, by having the time and space to call his own. He had learned from his father (and uncle), sought to learn as much as he could, and taught me tons of lessons along the way.
Decades went by before I came to fully understand his 'why'. And even more years elapsed before I found my own.
I started woodturning in 2021, perhaps inspired by a bit of Covid-boredom, but mainly because I was simply wanting to learn something new. What I found, after endless YouTube videos and a ton of mistakes, is that there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in creating on the lathe that can't be found elsewhere. I still enjoy typical woodworking, but woodturning requires me to work with the wood even more - having to consider whether it is green or dried, it's shape, the grain direction, incorporating or working around knots or defects, etc. It feels like it's equal parts knowledge, skill and art. And in the end, it's ultimately letting the wood have a say in what it's to become ... and hoping that I do it service in the process.
Whatever it is, it has become my 'why'. And needless to say, I get it now Dad.
My Process
One of the reasons that I've fallen in love with woodturning is that there is almost never one single way to create a piece or to get a desired effect. For every woodturner that I've read, watched, learned from or followed that has their own method(s) - there are a dozen others who use a different method to achieve a similar result. The inevitable lack of rules leaves a lot of room for experimenting, exploration, and inspiration. Here's are just a few of the factors that go into the creation process ...
Wood species
Predominant local hardwoods include: cherry, maple, walnut and others. I also source some more exotic woods for bowls and boards from time to time.
Shape and design
Inspiration is everywhere - whether it's something I've seen online, a knot or inclusion in the wood, or a beautiful grain pattern that pops out mid-project.
Green (wet) wood
Green (freshly cut) wood is much more forgiving and fun to turn - but also requires patience. A twice-turned bowl (turned wet, allowed to dry, and then turned again) - can take months from start to finish.
Dyes, paints and finishes
I use a lot of different paints, dyes, inks, burnings, etc - and am constantly looking for new ways to enhance or embellish a piece. See my FAQ page for more information on specific paints and finishes.
Dry wood
The 2 primary sources of dry blanks are to either purchase kiln dried wood, or to allow green wood to dry (slowly). I'm grateful to have a constantly revolving supply of both.
Carving and textures
Like paints, I'm enjoying adding texture and additional design elements to projects - often carving on pieces as they near completion.
Contact Alan
Have a question? Get in touch.
Feel free to email me directly at alan@anewtondesigns.com, or simply submit the form below.