Ron Purvis

I’ve been working with wood across many different crafts for 30 years. When I started exploring woodturning, I discovered a form that allowed me to introduce a much greater degree of creativity and flexibility into my work than I had found in furniture making, toy creation, and construction.

 

I first turn the wood on a lathe and carve it into shape with chisels. I turn the wood to 1/8 of an inch thick.  Voids are created by hand using a high-speed dental drill. Black texture is added through stippling using a wire-tipped wood burner. In specific cases, I’ll add paint or metal leaf. for additional color and character. Depending on the size and complexity, the time to complete a piece varies between 8 – 60 hours.

 

My previous career of 25 years as a financial controller consisted of sitting at a desk all day, applying defined rules, and negotiating future actions. Woodworking, in particular woodturning, has become a necessary activity for me to find balance. It’s an outlet for individuality, creativity, and the production of a tangible item that I didn’t find in my previous profession.