Wood Grain Is My Palette

Owner and artist at ASH Woodshops

I have been working with wood in one format or another since I was a child and my grandfather sold me my first whittling knife (for $0.50 because it was bad luck to give someone a knife) and taught me how to whittle a propeller. I think I was probably 10 years old, maybe younger. I began making boxes, model airplanes and furniture all from wood. This hobby became a passion through my teen years and as an adult, I continue to hone my craft. I discovered wood turning in my youth but did not have access to a lathe until I was able to finally purchase my own. I love turning wood on the lathe.

Everywhere I go, I am drawn to anything wooden. I just love to look at the intricacies of the wood grain in each piece. Every piece is different. As an artist, wood grain itself has become my palette. Because of this I have been an avid woodworker my whole life.

For my art form I enjoy making beautiful, useful items from all types of wood. Everything from furniture to writing instruments, custom boxes, jewelry boxes, puzzles, turned bowls, cutting boards, and jewelry. My focus as an artist has been making beautiful wooden items that are meant to be used every day. My art is not meant to be just looked at, sitting on a shelf collecting dust. It is meant to be touched, fondled, handled, and used. We use things every day, they might as well be beautiful too. Wood satisfies this, utility, and beauty. I love to take a piece of wood and reveal the natural beauty that God created with the grain. I cannot improve on that; I can only shape it to let the natural wood grain show through.
I have been working in Utilitarian Wooden Art for over 40 years, starting in my early teens, becoming self-taught in working this medium.

I have become particularly interested in high end writing instruments, particularly fountain pens. I have included other mediums in addition to wood in these creations including such materials as acrylic resins, acrylester resins, natural abalone shell, Steel, carbon fiber, brass, and aluminum.

Each piece is hand shaped by me. That in itself makes each one unique but because the grain of every piece of wood is different, just like our finger prints, every piece has an even more dramatic uniqueness.

I began selling my art in 2009 creating ASH Woodshops.

I love to collaborate with my customers making very special pieces that are individually designed with the specific customers desires. This has become a specialty of my shop.

My desire is to offer very high-quality products that satisfy one's shared love of wood. I will not ship anything that I would not like to keep and use myself. I want to be known for high quality, fast service, and satisfied customers, to the extreme in every case!

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