Howard Lewin
Carved
Wood
ARTIST STATEMENT:
My first wood turning experience was in seventh grade. It was fun! From then on, I tried to include turning in my other projects. My first lathe was a motor and an L bracket with a screw for the tail stock. It was scary, but it worked. I loved turning, but without a good lathe, it was always a frustrating experience. About 25 years ago, I developed my own lathe, which gave me the freedom to truly explore wood turning. Along with the lathe came the tools that simplified the process and made "impossible shapes" possible. I am basically a self-taught turner, however I have studied with Rude Osolnik, Dale Nish, Richard Raffan, Dell Stubbs and attended many workshops and demonstrations, all of which have greatly contributed to my understanding of the art and have given ideas which have guided me in new directions.
I prefer to turn green wood. Green wood gives the artist more latitude as to size, shape, grain direction, and cost of materials. Natural edges and the double bull's eye of the heart wood on the sides of a vessel are examples of this. The final shape of a piece turned from green wood is not totally predetermined. During the drying and curing process, many strange and wonderful things can happen. Trying to control this phenomenon is fascinating, wondrous, and not always successful.
Recently, I began dying dowels, gluing them into turning blocks, and turning them into unusual pieces. I next dyed veneers, glued them into turning blocks, and the results were no less spectacular. I saved the shavings from all these pieces, glued and pressed them into blocks and turned them. The result of this technique is extraordinary and almost unbelievable.
To purchase call: 310-991-7144 or e-mail gabrielle.artistsstudio.pvac@gmail.com
