Simply stated, I really enjoy creating /working with wood. I have restored furniture for many years; that adds many more years of useful life, which is very satisfying to me and results in many happy clients. I purchased my first wood lathe in 2004 and I am hooked! Currently use a large and a small lathe almost daily.
The medium is domestic local hardwood from dead or felled trees. Tools used start with the chainsaw to cut logs into blanks for turning on a wood lathe. Not sure that sweat is a tool, but there is lot of it! Grains/colors/bark inclusions/pest homes are just a few of the mysteries you find. Next, I mount the wood on the lathe to turn into a bowl or vase or whatever. Shaping the wood is done with very sharp gouges/scrapers/skews/etc. Then it is sanded and the chosen finish is applied.
Functional art is the general style; it may be a modern twist or patterned after the old pottery bowls used in your mother’s kitchen. Even natural bark edge bowls/vessels are functional. Some purely art pieces are created by what the chunk of wood reveals during the turning process. Prices range from $30 to $300.
Other activities that relates to my art work:

•  Charter Member of the Central Virginia Woodturners (CVW) and past Treasurer, VP Programs, and President. I am one of the club’s “beginner” Mentors for new members and have had over 5 dozen sessions. I also have been the featured Demonstrator at club meetings. I attend many all day demonstrations by various clubs in VA, which feature nationally known turners.

• Member of American Association of Woodturners (AAW) and have attended 2 of the 3 day International Symposiums that feature 30+ turners in 120 rotations. Have also attended the state level Symposiums in VA and NC.

• Shenandoah Valley Art Center (SVAC) Member in Waynesboro. I enter the member shows and have recruited other woodturners to join and support.

• Member of large COOP at Oasis Fine & Craft in Harrisonburg, VA.

• Member of Artisan Center of Virginia (ACV)

•  Licensed by Thomas Jefferson Foundation to turn woods from Monticello and have many creations with online presence.

My woodtuning signature or handle is “Hipwood”. Just add some whimsy and have fun too.