Here's Some Information About Myself
I've always been interested in
woodworking. I have fond memories of working in my Dad's workshop when I
was a boy. When my wife and I were first married and renting a duplex, one of
the first things I did was to build a workbench in the basement and put pegboard
on the wall for my tools. Over the years I purchased a number of pieces of
woodworking equipment and built some small furniture and other small
items.
Sometime in the mid 1990's a good friend, George "Sonnie" Sharrer, visited our church and brought several of his beautiful segmented bowls to show. When I saw them I was in awe at how beautiful they were!
I told Sonnie that although I loved woodworking, I was sure I could never be able to create such beautiful pieces. He assured me that I could. Then in 2001, after my retirement from John Deere, I was able to spend several days with Sonnie in his workshop in Independence, MO. During those days he taught me the basic techniques for building his segmented bowls and vases: how to design the item, how to cut segments, glue them together to form rings, glue rings to other rings, and turn the glued rings on the lathe. He also showed me how to build some of the jigs I would need for cutting and sanding the wood segments.
Over the years I have always tried to visit Sonnie when we are in Independence to visit family. He continues to be a mentor, critic and teacher to me. I will always be indebted to him for his help and guidance, without him I would never have had the inspiration to even try segmented woodturning!
Also important in my woodturning life has been my association with our local AAW chapter - The Quad Cities WoodTurners. We are so fortunate to have a number of excellent woodturners in our group. Although we've only been in existence for a short time the people in this group have continually inspired, educated and helped me move my work to higher and higher levels.
You can visit their web site at: http://www.qcwoodturners.com/
I was born in 1947 in Missouri but have lived in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois for the last 35 years. My wife and I currently live in Silvis, IL. I have always loved working with wood but didn't have the time to devote to it until my retirement from John Deere in 2001. In 2004 we moved to a new home where I was "allowed" to take about half of the basement for my workshop. It was like dying and going to heaven! I suddenly had over the twice the space of my previous workshop, it had higher ceilings and I was able to design it from the ground up. Since it is at least as large as a two car garage I can officially call it - My Studio!
My work of segmented woodturned objects is primarily influenced by my love of woodworking and of geometric shapes and symmetrical patterns. Other influences include the southwestern United States and the Native American art found there. I find great beauty in the Native American art with their extensive use of geometric shapes and patterns. I very much enjoy woodworking and, in particular, the challenge of doing precision woodworking (i.e. using micrometers and calipers to cut and sand the wood pieces to be as perfect as possible).
Sometime in the mid 1990's a good friend, George "Sonnie" Sharrer, visited our church and brought several of his beautiful segmented bowls to show. When I saw them I was in awe at how beautiful they were!
 |
Sonnie was a professional pattern maker and owned a pattern making business in
Moline, IL for many years. Since his retirement many years ago, he has
created over 600 beautiful segmented bowls!
You can see some of his work at: http://www.turnedwood.com/SonniesBowls/SonnieSharrar1.htm |
I told Sonnie that although I loved woodworking, I was sure I could never be able to create such beautiful pieces. He assured me that I could. Then in 2001, after my retirement from John Deere, I was able to spend several days with Sonnie in his workshop in Independence, MO. During those days he taught me the basic techniques for building his segmented bowls and vases: how to design the item, how to cut segments, glue them together to form rings, glue rings to other rings, and turn the glued rings on the lathe. He also showed me how to build some of the jigs I would need for cutting and sanding the wood segments.
Over the years I have always tried to visit Sonnie when we are in Independence to visit family. He continues to be a mentor, critic and teacher to me. I will always be indebted to him for his help and guidance, without him I would never have had the inspiration to even try segmented woodturning!
 |
After buying some tools (especially important was a Delta disc sander) and some precise measuring tools (calipers, etc.)
I attempted to make my first segmented bowl.
As you can see, it looks pretty crude but at the time I was very proud of that bowl. |
Also important in my woodturning life has been my association with our local AAW chapter - The Quad Cities WoodTurners. We are so fortunate to have a number of excellent woodturners in our group. Although we've only been in existence for a short time the people in this group have continually inspired, educated and helped me move my work to higher and higher levels.
You can visit their web site at: http://www.qcwoodturners.com/
I was born in 1947 in Missouri but have lived in the Quad Cities of Iowa and Illinois for the last 35 years. My wife and I currently live in Silvis, IL. I have always loved working with wood but didn't have the time to devote to it until my retirement from John Deere in 2001. In 2004 we moved to a new home where I was "allowed" to take about half of the basement for my workshop. It was like dying and going to heaven! I suddenly had over the twice the space of my previous workshop, it had higher ceilings and I was able to design it from the ground up. Since it is at least as large as a two car garage I can officially call it - My Studio!
My work of segmented woodturned objects is primarily influenced by my love of woodworking and of geometric shapes and symmetrical patterns. Other influences include the southwestern United States and the Native American art found there. I find great beauty in the Native American art with their extensive use of geometric shapes and patterns. I very much enjoy woodworking and, in particular, the challenge of doing precision woodworking (i.e. using micrometers and calipers to cut and sand the wood pieces to be as perfect as possible).