About the Artist

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona.  My parents had a dairy farm that is now called Maryvale High School. I first began woodworking in grade school wood shop.  The one thing I remember about my teacher was that he relished sneaking up behind students who had mistakenly placed a plane face down on the work bench.  He would then deliver a hair tingling smack across the student's bottom with a wood paddle.  I didn't learn much about woodworking from him, but I did learn to watch my back, a skill that turned out handy in later life.

I started my business in 1999 after retiring from 32 years of service as a police officer.  My original intent was to make boxes, bowls and pens and sell them at craft shows and on the internet.  I took a class at The Stained Glass Shop (stainedglass-shop.com) in Glendale Arizona on making stained glass art. I found the mixture of wood and stained glass to be interesting.  I made some wood frames for stained glass panels and then started doing other things.  This eventually led to making custom made furniture.

I enjoy designing and building furniture.  I was proud to have won a first class ribbon in a show sponsored by the Arizona Association of Fine Woodworkers in February, 2011.  The winning entry was an end table made from bubinga with a granite inlay. 

I enjoy building artful furniture, but it must be practical to use. After all, what use is a chair if a person cannot sit on it or a table that nothing may be placed.  I have seen really wild pieces of furniture that have interesting designs, but they do not lend themselves to practical use. I am most influenced by the work and designs of the late James Krenov, former director at College of the Redwoods.

I believe in using natures wood grain to decorate the pieces.  When I choose wood for a piece of furniture I look for imperfections that I may best use for accent and personality. Furniture factories use wood that is as blemish free as possible.  It makes it easier and faster if they do not have to contend with knot holes or other imperfections.  A wood artist, such as myself, seek the imperfect pieces out in order for the furniture to have a personality that only nature can produce.

My favorite wood is walnut, but I have worked with many species of wood, such as bubinga, bloodwood, ebony, zebra wood, maple, cedar, hickory, and many others.

I am a member of the Arizona Association of Fine Woodworkers and am currently a board member serving as secretary.

I have a standard in my shop and I will not deviate from it. If I am not proud of the work, it will not leave the shop.