Don Lewis

His dad gave him an old Craftsman lathe in 2001 and a few tools so he tried his hand at turning a few candle stick holders.  Spindle turning didn’t excite him too much.  However, once he tried his hand at bowl turning he was hooked and upgraded his lathe.  Don retired as a petroleum geologist in 2019 and has been filling his shop with shavings and sawdust ever since. 

He likes to experiment with all sorts of turning techniques.  Like many turners he began making utilitarian bowls then more decorative vessels.  He made his first segmented vessel in 2004 which opened up a whole new direction in his craft.  Since retirement he has created faux basketry vessels and plates, experimented with resins and wood embellishment with pyrography, dyes and stains and leather.  He says “When I grow up I may find a technique that interests me more than others.”