T.J. ANDERSON
WOOD ARTIST
Growing up the son of a custom cabinet maker, I have been exposed to wood all my life. I've worked in construction, cabinet making, home restoration, furniture making over the years. I now specialize in custom turned bowls and forms, as well as small furniture pieces.
My bowls and forms are created from salvaged wood, mostly from downed trees – usually as a result of disease, storm damage, or maintenance work - in the greater Seattle area or from Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. My goal is to give wood another chance at life by turning it into something interesting, useful and hopefully beautiful.
Working at my studio on Lopez Island, I mount the wood on the lathe and prepare to turn a bowl or form. I start with an idea for the finished piece. Once the lathe is turned on, the wood's unique characteristics take over and I simply follow its lead in terms of grain orientation, design, shape and finish.
Most of my pieces are turned green, meaning the wood is fresh and full of moisture. The pieces all come off the lathe in a symmetrical form, but as the piece dries its shape evolves in unpredictable and wonderful ways. Several elements combine to create these changes – the grain, wetness, cracks and knots.
In a finished piece I don't look for perfection, but rather something that not only looks good but feels good in the hand.
My bowls and forms are created from salvaged wood, mostly from downed trees – usually as a result of disease, storm damage, or maintenance work - in the greater Seattle area or from Lopez Island in the San Juan Islands. My goal is to give wood another chance at life by turning it into something interesting, useful and hopefully beautiful.
Working at my studio on Lopez Island, I mount the wood on the lathe and prepare to turn a bowl or form. I start with an idea for the finished piece. Once the lathe is turned on, the wood's unique characteristics take over and I simply follow its lead in terms of grain orientation, design, shape and finish.
Most of my pieces are turned green, meaning the wood is fresh and full of moisture. The pieces all come off the lathe in a symmetrical form, but as the piece dries its shape evolves in unpredictable and wonderful ways. Several elements combine to create these changes – the grain, wetness, cracks and knots.
In a finished piece I don't look for perfection, but rather something that not only looks good but feels good in the hand.