Colorado Wood Turners
(all measurements are approximate as each piece is individually created)
These are representative pieces currently in the Gallery...to see others, please request information on the artists' current selections.
Duane Fisher
"I enjoy taking all kinds of wood and turning it into different kinds of bowls, vases and art objects. Segmented turning seems to fit into my frugal upbringing as I use many pieces of wood thrown away by builders and businesses. With an eye developed in seeing the potential in shapes and designs. I have a lot of fun building something new and different; no two are alike. Up to now I have not tried to color any of my work. I use a clear finish to bring out the best color of each kind of wood. I intend to continue experimenting and learning."
Duane's shouldered vase on the left is made of walnut and redwood, maple and cherry woods. It is 18" tall and $350.00. "Noel's Dream" is made from 699 pieces of Kentucky Coffee wood, redwood, maple, red elm, oak, ash, walnut, and alder woods. It stands 2' tall and is $975.00.
Duane's cherry, walnut, and pine bowl is 6" tall and $95.00. His cherry, holly, walnut, and mahogony bowl is 7" tall and is $350.00.
Del Fischer
While Del has been working with wood for many years as a building contractor, it has only been since his retirement that he has begun to produce the beautiful bowls, boxes, and other fine pieces of truly elegant rare wood items that are available in limited quantity. Spending many hours in his backyard shop, he utilizes scraps of wood from a neighbor who hand crafts furniture. He also collects beautifully grained familiar and exotic woods. From these, he creates carefully designed, satin smooth bowls in a variety of shapes -each one of a kind. They are signed and he notes the types of wood used. In addition, he inserts a babbit, a soft metal, into each piece, the hallmark of his work. "I may spend as much as 20 to 60 hours on one bowl. Cutting and gluing is the slowest part, then turning on the lathe. Sanding is next, finishing with 400 grit sandpaper, then one or more coats of a transparent finish called Waterlox and a final coating of paste Trewax."
The vase on the left is made from maple, walnut, and burl woods, is 6" tall and $195.00. Del's ash, padouk, dyed vaneer vase is 2 1/2" tall and 7" wide and is $160.00. The bowl with the turquoise piece is made from myrtle burl that is over 100 years old. It is 5" tall and is $240.00.
The picture on the right has some of Del's smaller pieces. The vase on the left is 4 1/2" tall and is made from cherry, walnut, and myrtle burl. It is $235.00. The bowl in the center is made from red oak, purple heart canary, and burch woods. It is 2" tall and 7" wide and is $95.00. The last vase on the right is made from cherry and afromosia woods, is 5 1/2" tall and is $115.00.
Wood products must be kept away from direct sunlight.
Charles Blanc
Chuck, the creator of "Chuck's Ducks", started hand carving ducks to relieve job stress. He had always enjoyed working with wood, and chose ducks because they "come in many sizes, shapes and colors". A small duck involves about 100 - 120 hours of work. Because all are hand-carved, no two of his feathered friends are alike. Chuck is a Colorado native, and is retired from the Denver Public Schools.
Long term care is to simply use a dry dust cloth.
Chuck's
Ducks are priced from $75 to $275.
Bob's vases run from about $45 to $65, depending on size. The candle holder is $30.
His aspen weed pots (suitable only for dried flowers) are priced between $18 and $70.
John Lynch has been a resident of Estes Park since 1985. A lifetime of working with wood has led John back to lathe and bowl turning. The challenge of turning a large chunk of wood into a work of art is in finding the unique characteristics that Mother Nature placed there and drawing it out. He turns a variety of forms, from rustic to paper-thin walls. His grand adventure was to move with his wife and family to a remote island in northern Minnesota and renovate a mansion into a fishing lodge, which they operated for 15 years. In 1995, he was commissioned to make Pope John Paul II an armoire to hold his robes during his visit to St. Malo Church in Estes Park. It was made with raised panels with no nails or screws and the finish was specially fumed to authenticate the traditional ways they were made in the past.
From left to right: The maple bowl is 9" in diameter and 3" tall and is $120.00.
The red bowl is 9 1/2" in diameter and 1 1/2" tall and is $120.00. It is made from maple burl wood.
The bowl on the right is 8" in diameter and 4" tall, is made from elm wood and is $120.00.
The wine stoppers are 4" long and $20.00.
John Loftus
I have been interested in wood working most of my adult life. After retiring and having more time to pursue my hobby, I found that working with aspen wood on the lathe was most enjoyable. I now turn aspen wood and other native woods exclusively. The aspen used is taken from dead trees, which must be standing for at least one year to dry the wood, enough to turn. During this time period, the aspen decays. This process is called spalting and causes the streaks, dark lines and discoloration seen in many pieces. Insects also invade the tree by boring holes, which can sometimes be seen in the turning.
I hope you will find as much enjoyment from my pieces as I have had creating them.
John's vase on the left is 10" tall and $35.00. The round vase in front is 4 1/2" tall and $40.00. The vase on the right is 9 1/2" tall and $45.00. The lamp base is 9 1/2" tall and $175.00, and the elk lampshade (sold separately) is $40.00.
John also creats moose, kokopelli, and wolf lampshades.
Connie Cantrell
Each duck, a gift of nature, is individually hand made Colorado artist Connie Cantrell using natural materials gathered from the forests of North America. Each duck is unique.
Connie's ducks come in three sizes. The large duck is 15" long and is $75. The medium duck is 11" long and $50, and the small duck is 5 1/2" long and $18.
Jon Nelson
The egg-shaped St. Nick on the left is 3" tall and $49.95.
The "Rotten/Good" Santa is 10" tall and $169.95.
Grand Lake Art Gallery
1117 Grand Avenue
P.O. Box 1468
Grand Lake, Colorado 80447
e-mail: glag@grandlakeartgallery.com
Phone/FAX (970) 627-3104
