"Each piece is created to entice the viewer to touch and experience the natural beauty and warmth of the wood."

This long time resident of Virginia's Eastern Shore is no stranger to working with wood. Bruce has been involved with various kinds of woodworking most of his life, and his experiences include everything from manufacturing outdoor furniture and gazebos to decorative bird carving. Following a severe spinal injury several years ago, he began woodturning as a hobby and has been turning wood for about six years now. He is now a professional woodturner.

An article about his thin-walled pierced Christmas ornaments appeared in the Winter 2000 issue of American Woodturner. Bruce has also written about the "Point to Point" method of spindle turning of Myron Curtis. As self-proclaimed past president of the "I Hate To SAND Club", Bruce has developed many innovative methods, tools, and widgets to reduce sanding effort. He now finds sanding much more palatable and sometimes even fun, and has created a demonstration devoted entirely to sanding techniques. Also an inventor, Bruce has developed and markets The Sanding Glove^TM for woodworkers. He has an article upcoming in American Woodturner about his "Square Aim Laser", which is an improved design for a laser hollowing-guide that he shares for all to use.

Bruce credits much of his "growth" as a woodturner to his mentors, Myron Curtis of Virginia Beach, VA; professional woodturner John Penrod of Tallahassee, FL; and Frank Sudol of Canada. He has studied extensively with Frank Sudol here in the states and at his home in Canada, and has plans to travel to Canada this winter to study again with Frank Sudol, and Mike Hosulak. Bruce's demonstrating experience includes the 2001 Carolina Mini-Symposium; the national 2002 AAW Symposium in Providence, Rhode Island, and several club demonstrations. He is one who particularly enjoys sharing information with others.

Bruce along with his wife Janet, exhibit in juried art shows throughout the year, and have received several awards for their woodturnings. Specialties include hollow forms, tea kettles, and pierced Christmas ornaments. They also introduced their new "Cocoon" Series of turnings this year. Bruce and Janet are juried exhibitors of the Eastern Shore Artisans Guild, and juried exhibitors in the Artisans Center of Virginia.

Awards:

• Tidewater Turners - Norfolk, VA 1999 Best of Show
• Neptune Art Show - Va. Beach, VA 2000 Award of Merit
• Neptune Art Show - Va. Beach, VA 2001 Award of Excellence
• Art on the Half Shell - Urbana, VA 2002 Best of Show
• Seawall Art Show -Portsmouth, VA 2002 Award of Excellence
• An Occasion For The Arts - Williamsburg, VA 2002 Award of Merit

• Boardwalk Art Show - Virginia Beach, VA 2000, 2001, 2002
• Columbus Arts Festival - Columbus, Ohio 2002, 2003

Cocoon

Ginger Jar

Kettle Series #3

Gum Burl