 My passion for woodturning started by getting firewood logs from a friend’s wood pile and started turning small bowls in my garage. Turning these logs was very enjoyable but I never got serious. I gave most all of these bowls to friends and family. Several years later I bought another lathe and a mitre saw, I had no garage this time so I had to turn wood in my spare bedroom. I covered the carpet with a tarp and pointed a fan out of the window for ventilation. I was interviewed for an article in the newspaper prior to a showing and she wanted to take pictures. I told her oh no my landlord doesn't know that I do this in her house! She will evict me! (I now have a shop specifically designed for my rock turning).
A gentleman who turned wood tutored me and showed me the proper techniques of turning. He even sold me some exotic woods out of his own personal stock. (Thanks, Scott!) I was inspired and fell in love with the colors, textures and the different characteristics of wood. Many nights I would put a chunk of wood on my lathe with the intention of stopping there, then I would say to myself that I would just turn it round and balanced then I would stop there for the night. But, many times I would look at my watch and it would be 3 AM and the project would be finished! My skills and understanding of the art of turning wood grew very fast. I was spurred into joining the local art association (LEAA); they fussed over my art work and convinced me to show at a Christmas sale (Thanks, Ladies). The artists, friends and family were always encouraging and many bought my work. One of the sculptors brought me a piece of alabaster (Thanks, David), I brought it home and my tools would hardly even scratch it! I took one of my Carbide router bits and welded it to a rod for a handle. Bingo! I started to shape this piece of rock! When sanding and putting a coating on it I found that this rock became a beautiful small simple dish! It was green with orange streaks in it! It was beautiful! I drove all over town showing people this simple shallow dish, I can turn rock! I can turn rock! Since very few people turn stone I had to design and build most of my own tools, jigs and my techniques from wood to stone had to change as it is very different. I started searching the web and found soapstone and alabaster; I had no idea that stone came in so many colors, texture or patterns! Each mine or geographical area has the different minerals which defines the colors and patterns in the stone. It has been in the ground for thousands maybe millions of years never to be seen by the human eye. Only When I get a piece shaped and sanded is it truly seen for the first time by human eye! Mine! Now, how blessed am I? I mean really?! I truly am blessed by God to be able to work with this incredible stone. To shape it and turn it from a shapeless, clump, and expose Gods handy work, then bring it to the world to enjoy! I have a hard time cutting the rock into small pieces to make the segmented bowls and vases as the patterns and decorations in the rock are truly incredible so I make many bowls out of a single piece of rock. Segmenting is the art of putting many pieces of wood or stone together to achieve the patterns and color schemes. I went to Wyoming for a week long seminar to better hone my wood segmenting skills. (Thanks Curt) I then had to alter my skills to make the segmented bowls and vases.  I hope that you enjoy the pictures as I also photograph my own work. (Thanks DR. Bryan) | 
