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I have always enjoyed art and the beauty of simple things found in nature
that we see every day. All of nature is art if we look deep enough and
express ordinary things in a different way than we are used to seeing it.
Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, I started making things from wood, and
then experimented in painting and different mediums through school. During
this time I had an avid interest in the evolution of humans through time and
the functional items they created and used.
I began turning wood in my mid-twenties and shortly after had to give it up
because life got too busy. When I sold my lathe I promised myself that one
day I would buy a bigger lathe and return to the hobby I once loved. Now
that I'm retired, that day has come. Now I spend many hours watching
nature's hidden beauty come out in the grain of various types of wood.
My creations reflect the designs of whatever culture and period I may be
interested in at the moment, creating many different types of wooden
vessels that used to be hand-made from other materials in order to hold
liquids and staples. The bowls and vessels are portrayed as art that blends
the shapes of old pottery with the beauty of finished wood. After studying
the woods natural color, makeup and grain pattern, I usually start with a
basic design in mind. However, during the turning process I often alter the
style of the piece in order to showcase a particular area of interest the wood
reveals.
I hope you enjoy the exposed beauty of what is too often thrown away to
decay as much as I do. It's great when a gallery wants to display my work
and a bonus when folks want to purchase pieces for a special gift or
personal enjoyment. Enjoy knowing that this gift to mankind was not ground
into mulch!
Bob can be reached directly via email at
HeckathornTurnedWood@gmail.com
. You can view more of his work by visiting his
website
and his
Etsy Shop
.
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