My first experience woodturning was in Grade 7 workshop and I continued woodworking through high school. I have always had a passion for woodworking, but I established my career as a licensed carpenter with an industry focus on custom home construction. In 2017, when I started planning for my retirement, I began setting up a workshop/studio dedicated to the craft of woodturning. I followed wood turners and mentors on social media and started trying out different techniques and tools. I attended my first hands-on retreat in 2019, in Texas, with my friend and mentor Lionel B. In 2020, I had the opportunity to spend one-on-one time with woodturning artist, Chris Ramsey (Kentucky) in his workshop. In 2022, I travelled to JoHannes Michelsen's Vermont Barn Studio to learn new techniques and to hone my woodturning skills. As I am largely self-taught, this instructional experience was invaluable. I like searching for a piece of wood and the challenge of taking a rough block of wood, examining the shape, grain and figure, and then turning it into a unique piece of art. The use of pyrography, piercing, carving, paints and dyes largely depends on the distinctive features of the wood and enhances the singular nature of my work. I love turning wood and I hope that my work captures your imagination and inspires you.
Demonstrations/Education/Acknowledgements:
Ongoing
Lakefield, Ontario: My workshop/studio: Teaching/demonstrating woodturning techniques
March 2019
Kingsville, Texas: Nave’s Sawmill, Hands on Woodturning Retreat to learn new techniques from skilled demonstrators
October 2019
West Harrison, Indiana: Ohio Valley Woodturners Guild (OVWG)
Attendee of symposium to learn new techniques
January 2020
Somerset, Kentucky: Chris Ramsey, Woodturner, Artist, One to One instruction by Chris Ramsey for techniques for turning full size and mini hats
Balance of 2020
Practiced skillset, researched and learned new techniques
August 2021
Membership: American Association of Woodturner (AAW)
2021
Practiced skillset, researched and learned new techniques
January 2022
Franklin, Tennessee: Annual Symposium Tennessee Association of Woodturners
Attended various woodturning demonstrations
March 2022
Saratoga Springs, New York: Northeastern Woodworkers Association, Totally Turning Symposium
Attended scheduled demonstrations of woodturning
April 2022
Ottawa, Ontario; Bytown Woodturners Guild
Demonstrator/Instructor of turned mirror frames
June 2022
Cedar Springs, Michigan: Campbell’s Hands on Retreat
Invited to be a demonstrator/instructor at this hands on event
Demonstrated/taught learning to turn mini hats and ornamental birds
June 2022
Chattanooga, Tennessee: American Association of Woodturners (AAW), Annual International Woodturning Symposium
Attended scheduled demonstration of woodturning
Exhibited a few of my artistic pieces in the gallery for judging
Received honourable mention for my pieces
My turnings were part of the silent auction and sold at the event
I was noticed at this event by the editor of American Woodturner, Journal of the American Association of Woodturners
I was then featured in the Members’ Gallery section of the Journal, October 2022 vol 37 edition
In the same edition I was also published in the Tips section for utilizing a log ramp to hoist a bowl blank weighing over 200 pounds
August 2022
Waco, Texas: Southwestern Association of Woodturners (SWAT), Annual Symposium
Attendee to broaden my craft and learn new skills
Exhibited two pieces and sold both in silent auction
Turned a custom fit cowboy hat for Cheryl Elliott Lewis who then used her torch technique to apply a finish. The entry was a collaboration of our talents
August 2022
World of Woodturners (WoW) in collaboration with Cheryl Elliott Lewis
The cowboy hat was on the cover of WoW titled with the caption “I Wanna BEE a Cowboy”
September 2022
Peterborough, Ontario: Membership with Kawartha Woodturner Guild (KWG)
Attendee, Exhibitor
November 2022
Manchester,Vermont: JoHannes Michelson, School of Woodturning
Attended school for private woodturning hands on workshop for turning full size and mini hats
December 2022
Peterborough, Ontario: Craftworks and Antiques at The Barn
Vendor Booth for display and sale of woodturnings
January 2023
Franklin, Tennessee: Annual Symposium Tennessee Association of Woodturners
Attended various woodturning demonstrations
February 2023
Turned and donated two full size cowboy hats, once again collaborating with Cheryl Elliott Lewis for Woodturners Worldwide symposium (online). Cheryl will demonstrate how to torch paint my wood turned cowboy hat with bees wax and pigment
February 2023
Peterborough, Ontario: Kawartha Woodturners Guild (KWG), monthly chapter meeting of woodturners
Demonstrator/Instructor of turning a mini hat
March 2023
Pickering, Ontario: Woodtuners Guild of Ontario (WGO)
Demonstrator/Instructor of turning a mini hat
March 2023
Saratoga Springs, New York: Northeastern Woodworkers Association, Totally Turning Symposium
Attendee of scheduled demonstrations of woodturning
March 2023
Manchester,Vermont: JoHannes Michelson, School of Woodturning
Attended school for private woodturning hands on workshop
April 2023
Detroit, Michigan: Detroit Area Woodturners (DAW)
Demonstrator/Instructor of turning a mini hat
June 2023
Cedar Springs, Michigan: Campbell’s Hands on Retreat
Demonstrator/instructor at this hands on event
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn mini hats and ornamental birds
September 2023
Manchester, Iowa: Famous Davis Ranch, hosted by Brad Davis
Attended private hands on workshop with Neil Turner demonstrating carving techniques
October 2023
Manchester, Iowa: Famous Davis Ranch, hosted by Brad Davis
Attended private hands on workshop with Jacques Vesery demonstrating pyography and dry brushing techniques
October 2023
Ottawa, Ontario: Ottawa Valley Woodturners
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn a full size cowboy hat
Upcoming Events:
December 9, 2023
Ottawa, Ontario: Bytown Woodturners Guild
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn a full size cowboy hat
January 20 & 21, 2024
Kingston, Ontario: Kingston Woodturners
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn a full size cowboy hat
Hands on teaching how to turn a mini hat
February 8, 2024
Pickering, Ontario: Woodturners Guild of Ontario (WGO)
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn a full size cowboy hat
February 13, 2024
Peterborough, Ontario: Kawartha Woodturners Guild
Demonstrating/teaching how to turn a 3 legged bowl
August 2024
Waco, Texas: Southwestern Association of Woodturners (SWAT), Annual Symposium
Attendee to broaden my craft and learn new skills
Sincerely Your Artist,
Jim Williams