Jess Tode Woodturner
Artist Statement:
I tend to use mostly locally acquired wood. The Bozeman urban forest has quite a variety of tree species, and I’m always looking for opportunities to collect different types of wood. I’ve discovered that people in this area tend to get quite attached to their trees. When one needs to be taken down, what better way to remember it than with a bowl, vessel or turned utensil? It is very exciting to find what is hidden in a log. I admit, my results sometimes end up on the firewood pile, but some of my most beautiful pieces started out as a log on someone else’s firewood pile.
Bio:
My vocation is engineering and my avocation is woodworking. My love of woodworking started at an early age helping my Dad working on his carpentry projects. Once I was able to have a dedicated workshop and enough income to afford tools, my skills and desires improved. In the late 1980’s my brother provided a long term loan of an older Atlas wood lathe. I fixed this lathe up and started on some rudimentary turning projects. I connected with the Northern Rockies Woodworking Guild which has members involved in all aspects of woodworking with many members participating in woodturning.
Through the guild I have had the opportunity to learn from turning demonstrations from professionals from around the world and this continues to be a learning experience on a peer to peer basis. The downside of this relationship is the desire to buy more, bigger and better tools. The long term loan of the little lathe turned into a purchase of a bigger lathe and devoting more shop space to the turning. I also help with the guild by running their web site www.NRWG.org.
I’m always looking for local hardwood to turn. Fresh cut growing trees are always the best. Standing or fallen dead is not much use for turning. I won’t cut it down but the tree service guys or the city will leave wood if you ask and I will pick it up. The standard arrangement is if I can have the wood I’ll make you a bowl. You may have to wait 6 to 12 months for the wood to dry. Please contact me first to see if wood is of interest.
I tend to use mostly locally acquired wood. The Bozeman urban forest has quite a variety of tree species, and I’m always looking for opportunities to collect different types of wood. I’ve discovered that people in this area tend to get quite attached to their trees. When one needs to be taken down, what better way to remember it than with a bowl, vessel or turned utensil? It is very exciting to find what is hidden in a log. I admit, my results sometimes end up on the firewood pile, but some of my most beautiful pieces started out as a log on someone else’s firewood pile.
Bio:
My vocation is engineering and my avocation is woodworking. My love of woodworking started at an early age helping my Dad working on his carpentry projects. Once I was able to have a dedicated workshop and enough income to afford tools, my skills and desires improved. In the late 1980’s my brother provided a long term loan of an older Atlas wood lathe. I fixed this lathe up and started on some rudimentary turning projects. I connected with the Northern Rockies Woodworking Guild which has members involved in all aspects of woodworking with many members participating in woodturning.
Through the guild I have had the opportunity to learn from turning demonstrations from professionals from around the world and this continues to be a learning experience on a peer to peer basis. The downside of this relationship is the desire to buy more, bigger and better tools. The long term loan of the little lathe turned into a purchase of a bigger lathe and devoting more shop space to the turning. I also help with the guild by running their web site www.NRWG.org.
I’m always looking for local hardwood to turn. Fresh cut growing trees are always the best. Standing or fallen dead is not much use for turning. I won’t cut it down but the tree service guys or the city will leave wood if you ask and I will pick it up. The standard arrangement is if I can have the wood I’ll make you a bowl. You may have to wait 6 to 12 months for the wood to dry. Please contact me first to see if wood is of interest.