Steven Kennard Woodturner, Furniture Maker

The wood turner artist's journey of experimentation and learning really is one of discovery. We discover and develop our own skills and we perfect techniques, little tricks and shortcuts that work well for each of us. We find tools we like to work with and works we like to produce. We also gravitate towards specific woods that we find sympathetic in helping us each to achieve our goals in the different projects we undertake. We grow into a unique and intensely personal relationship with our work. Because I work alone, as most artists do, certain introspective aspects of my voyage are impossible to communicate to another person except through the work itself. This has turned out to be one of the most positive inspirations for me. The communication of reactions and emotions evoked when someone sees a piece of my work, this sharing in the experience of others - whether they are intrigued, moved to laughter or excitement - gives me enormous satisfaction and the motivation to keep exploring and moving on.

The world is being smothered with mediocrity and uniformity all wrapped in a plastic easy care package. In a kind of counter-educational work, the general public is being taught to look no higher when it comes to standards of quality and design. It is important for me to think when I make a box or a bowl or a piece of furniture that it is going to be around for a very long time. I really hate the idea of waste - things that are bought today and thrown out tomorrow or next month or even next year.

As it is for many artists, my search was and still is for the perfect form, perfect proportions, the perfect piece of wood with which to create each object. This makes the journey without an end, as each achievement makes the goal recede further into the distance. I have been working with box forms for many years, not exclusively of course, but I find myself always returning down that path. The encouraging aspect - the growth - means that I can look back at my earliest work from time to time, seeing in those designs the seeds of the present ones.

You are welcome to browse through my site. The biography page tells you about my background and experience. There is a Gallery section containing photographs of my boxes, bowls,
candlesticks and furniture, as well as galleries where my work can be seen. Some of my favourite pieces are here. Clicking on pictures of the work will show you an enlargement.

The Courses section is for those interested in coming to my studio workshop to learn different techniques. These might be turners just starting out on their journey, or those ready to take a slightly different path. From time to time I receive enquiries about my courses or my work, and I always take the time to reply to these. Frequently I never hear back from these people, as to whether I was able to help them. Please let me know if my reply has been helpful. The course fees are clearly marked, so please only contact me if you have read the information and are committed to attending, as my time for teaching is very limited and a booking that is not followed up will mean that someone else who could have taken this space will be disappointed.

The Studio Gallery in Canning, Nova Scotia

If you want to know anything more on your way through my site, if you see the 'click for a real person' sign, then you can click for a live conversation directly with me. A separate window will open for this. Or send me an email at any time. My contact me page contains the information you need to do so.

I hope you enjoy your journey as much as I am enjoying mine.

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