While my formal vocation was mechanical engineering for many years, my avocation has been woodturning since I took my first woodturning class in 2000. At that time, I joined the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) and the Tidewater Turners of Virginia, the local chapter of the AAW. From the beginning, I have been active in both organizations.
Early in my woodturning I took classes taught through the local AAW chapter in order to learn the basics of the craft. As my knowledge and interest grew, I realized that to excel in my craft I would need to continue my education with advanced classes. As a result, I have studied woodturning at both the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Tennessee and the John C. Campbell Folk Art School in North Carolina. I have studied under internationally acclaimed artists (Alain Mailland – France, Ray Key – England) as well as nationally recognized artists such as Trent Bosch (Colorado), Michael Mocho (New Mexico), Mark St Leger (Virginia), Avelino Samuel (St John, USVI), John Moscoll (Florida), and Dixie Biggs (Florida). Since taking his class, I have assisted Avelino Samuel in teaching at Arrowmont multiple times.
My work has been shown at galleries and exhibitions in Virginia, North Carolina, and Maryland. In addition, my work has been featured in juried exhibitions at the 2007(Portland, Oregon), 2014 (Phoenix, Arizona), 2015 (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), 2017 (Kansas City, Kansas), and 2020 (Louisville, Kentucky) AAW National Symposiums.
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