In this unique collection of artistic pieces that have redefined the limits of shaped wood, crafters and designers alike are treated to a wealth of knowledge from 31 leading artists who share their personal motivations, thought processes, and the studio techniques employed to bring out the breathtaking beauty of wood. Contemporary artists such as Virginia Dodson, Binh Pho, Harvey Fein, Paul Fennell, and Marilyn Campbell are among those whose works are given studio-quality photographic treatment. Each featured piece encourages crafters to find new ways of connecting with their own creative channels and makes this book an important document of the modern craft. Sure to become a treasure in every woodworking library.Kevin Wallace is an independent curator who has worked with the Los Angeles Departments of Cultural Affairs, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Craft & Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles. He is the author of Transforming Vision: The Wood Sculpture of William Hunter and River of Destiny: The Life and Art of Binh Pho. Terry Martin is a practicing wood artist and the author of Wood Dreaming. He is a former editor of Turning Points-the only journal dedicated solely to wood art-who has written more than 200 articles for 12 journals in seven countries.

CONTENTSIntroduction viiiLiam Flynn: Striving to Find the Perfect Line 1Hayley Smith: Ideas Evolve and Flow into the Next Piece 7J. Paul Fennell: Technical and Creative Challenges Are Always Mingled 13Harvey Fein: Consider Texture, Pattern, and Inclusions 19Butch SMuts: Keeping It Simple Is the Best Investment 25Ron Fleming: More Ideas Than I Can Ever Produce 31Peter Hromek: You Find These Shapes Everywhere in Nature 37William Moore: The Contrasting Relationships of Wood and Metal 45Vaughn Richmond: Technical Challenges Are the Most Exciting 51Rolly Munro: The Lathe Creates Armature for Major Sculptural Work 57Hans Weissflog: Totally Focused While Turning 63Jacques Vesery: When I Get in a Groove, Watch Out 69Michael Hosaluk: I'm Not Afraid to Venture Out of My Comfort Zone 75Michael Mode: The Intimate Interplay of Idea, Hand and Eye 81Dewey Garrett: The Lathe Places a Limit, Yet Offers Endless Possibilities 89Betty Scarpino: It's Like Discovering Hidden Treasure 97Christophe Nancey: A Symbolic Picture of the Living Process 103Virginia Dotson: Shaping Layered Wood Reveals Compositions of Patterns 109Ron Layport: Surface Work Will Not Cover Up Poor Form 115Neil Scobvie: Thinking of Running Water 121Mark Gardner: Drawn to the Rhythm of Repeated Carved Patterns 127Marilyn Campbell: Pushing the Designs While Keeping Them Simple 133Steven Kennard: Technique Is Important, But Secondary to Getting There 139Louise Hibbert: The Lathe Gives My Work Rhythm and Balance 145Thierry Martenon: It's Good to Work with Almost Nothing 151Graeme Priddle: Pacific Island Culture and the Ocean's Beauty 157Binh Pho: Stories Told with Color 163Marc Ricourt: The Vessel Was Mankind's First Tool 169Mike Lee: Wood Is a Joy To Work or My Worst Nightmare 177Alain Mailland: There Is No Limit to the Forms I Can Make 181David Sengel: Much Yet to Do with the Lathe 189Glossary 194List of Organizations 195Further Reading 196