Born in Mayenne (France) in 1974
I have always been attracted by wood and all the creative possibilities it offers. During long studies without any conviction, I have participated in evening sculpture courses. But I came to the lathe and decided to learn the trade of woodturner (with passion, this time). Above all, I have discovered the various aspects of woodturning – traditional, utilitarian production, and creation. I have been directly attracted by this diversity.
My thanks to Jean-François ESCOULEN and AFTAB (French association for artistic woodturning) where I could learn with many international and French professionals. Every year, I participate in professional courses.
I created my workshop in 2002. During the first 10 years, I have been a craftsman woodturner sharing my activity between turning by orders for cabinet makers, production, and creation – work that requires great precision and the others that allow me to go in a more personal imaginary.
I also love teaching and demonstrating and, in 2014, I moved to Aiguines (Provence) to join the Escoulen school teaching team. Today « teaching by doing » at the school has become a parttime activity.
For the rest, I am working alone in my workshop. Last years, my research has focused on turning green fig tree. I am fascinating by the spectacular distorsions that come during drying. So I play.
Demonstrating has given me the opportunity to travel since 2005 (Spain, England, Ireland, USA, Quebec, and more) and it’s one of the most beautiful things that happened to me.
Roped Bowl
Key points :
- Bowl design -“Rope” texture -Production methods
Techniques :
- Which tool and sharpening for a good surface and to control the form -Criticize a bowl (curve, shape, balance, proportion, use…)
- Add the “rope” texture by keeping the shape
- Add the “rope” texture to contrast with clean wood surface
- How to finish the base on a wood chuck
Raindrop Box
Key points :
- Box making, design and proportion -Fine scratch texture with iron brush
- Ring inlay
- Raindrop shape
Techniques :
- Back hollowing end grain technique
- How to inlay a ring to create a contrast
- Which tool and sharpening for a good surface and to control the form
- One simple way to create elegant texture with iron brush
The slicing angle, how to achieve a good cut with the tool
Rope the bevel that’s good, slicing on wood it’s better! With the skew, the spindle gouge, the scraper or the bedan, let’s try the slicing angle for a good surface without sanding and nice shavings. It also enable us to turn thinner by reducing the pressure on wood.
We will see the different applications for traditional spindle work.
Key points :
- Difference between bad scraping, cutting by roping the bevel and a good cut with the slicing angle
- Why giving an inclination to the bevel give a better cut, less pressure on the wood and less vibrations
- How to reduce sanding with standard tools (spindle gouge, skew chisel, bedan, bowl gouge and scraper)
Techniques :
- demonstration of a good cut with a hand planer and chisel
- how to turn a thin handle spatula with the skew chisel from a small planed board
- why using long edge sharpening and how to sharpen it (spindle gouge and bowl gouge)
- how to get a nice surface on the outside of a bowl (spindle gouge, bowl gouge)
- how to get the slicing angle to improve the cut with the scraper
- turning a small traditional leg with the bedan and the spindle gouge (how to get a complete shape, continuity, connect the bead with the cove, be confident with our eye…)
Pebble Box
The idea should come from a very common activity near the river where I live.
To demonstrate this multi-storey box, I will use different techniques : eccentric chuck, small hollowing featuring a tiny opening, carving and texturing.
“Ronde”
This is a piece coming from far away.
I will explain and demonstrate the different steps. But before I would like to illustrate the progress of this creation. So, starting from drawings, try and mistakes, I will present a short slide show. Of course, we will mostly speak about curve and I will talk about this story.