About the woodturner...
After years of casual woodworking such as making canoes, kayaks, and a bit of furniture, I discovered woodturning in retirement. It has turned out to be a source of great fun and satisfaction.
Because I started late in life I decided to hone a narrow set of skills, so I chose bowls, platters and vases as my specialty, and use mostly wood species native to Wisconsin. I’m trying to hit a sweet spot between utility and art. When I can, I retain the bark on a turning to give it a natural edge. I also turn a lot of wyes (crotch cross-sections) to show off the unusual grain pattern, and burls, which also have unique patterns. Every piece is different!
On some of my bowls you will see coiling: a bundle of Southern longleaf pine needles or sea grass formed into a continuous coil that is sewn to the rim, adding a sort of decorative ‘superbark’. This is the work of my sister, Anne Davidson, a very creative collaborator.
butternut wye
oak burl
coiled walnut