MICHAEL ANDERSON
I live in Chattanooga, TN, and teach biology at a local community college. Prior to finding wood art, I spent most of my free time hiking, rock climbing, and searching for frogs and salamanders. When my first child was born, I bought a lathe so I could spend more time at home with my growing family. Woodturning gave me the same sense of exploration and wonder as I felt before, and those feelings were heightened when I began to combine woodturning with other skills.
While the lathe is my principal tool, I also devote considerable additional time to refining my pieces post-turning via hand and power carving, pyrography, and painting. My favorite pieces tell a story, and I draw heavily upon personal experiences and emotions to write that story. I encourage viewer participation whether by direct physical interaction or simply connecting with the story I’m telling. I find great joy when someone sees my work and wants to know more.
I primarily focus on turning (and often embellishing) traditional calabash bowls and sculptural pieces. That said, there are a lot of in-betweens there, and many of my sculpture pieces incorporate bowls and other traditional shapes. As a material, wood is incredibly diverse: A wide array of colors, grain patterns, textures, scents, densities, and more. Sometimes I highlight these natural characteristics, but other times the wood is simply a canvas for expression. Whatever the end goal, thoughtful design and form are paramount.