I have been making pens for the past 20 years, starting back when the exotic woods were Kingwood and a very rare piece of Cocobolo put on a gold slimline. The finish was wax sticks that you would press against the wood as hard as you could and then buff out with a cotton towel. Jump ahead to today with many unique and interesting blanks and pen kits … acrylics of all colors, feathers, deer antler, circuit boards, and anything else you can cast or turn. Even wood pens have undergone dozens of finishing techniques. Being self-taught, I have tried it all and have had great success, tempered with a ton of mistakes. I recently finished the Stream Punk Mickey Mouse Pen that I will be demonstrating during my sessions. Penturning is unique because you get to be creative in the design, blank selection, and finish, while still requiring more precision than many other forms of turning. A fraction of an inch off at a fitting and the pen is simply not professional. An electrical engineer with grown children and thus more time on my hands, I turn to turning in the evenings and weekends to quench my artistic and creative thirst. All day long, I have to stay between the lines and play nice, but in my studio I get to play, producing approximately 300 pens annually. I view each as a piece of art – exclusive to itself, yet functional. There is no finer joy for me than to have someone say they have one of my pens and use it for their special occasions or that they have presented one as a gift and it was a hit.
I teach out of my studio and have demonstrated at local chapters, passing on my knowledge of the art to anyone who wants to listen and learn. I believe in the “love of the game” style of education. Coming to a class and watching to learn are just the start. My goal is to inspire and encourage students to practice on their own and experiment to find their own voice.
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