I studied woodworking first at the California College of Arts and Crafts, and then with internationally renowned craftsman James Krenov at the College of the Redwoods. Since the 1980’s I have been making objects in wood such as furniture, sculpture, and boxes. My work has been exhibited in galleries and museums, and is in many private and public collections including the New Mexico Capitol Arts Collection and the La Veta Public Library. I was co-director of the Fine Woodworking Program at Santa Fe Community College and taught there for 26 years. Working with clients in a collaborative process to create one-of-a-kind custom pieces has been the heart of my woodworking career. Currently I am building a studio in La Veta and hope to begin working in the shop in the near future.

Thirty-five years as a professional photographer in Las Vegas has given Van a unique artistic perspective and certainly a different approach to his wood-turned art. “Traditional” is not a word Van considers when turning his creative pieces of wood art. Van’s most creative and cherished turned pieces come from what may appear to be wood suitable only to throw away. Clients throughout the united States and England have enjoyed Van's hand turned wood art.

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“This vessel is the most beautiful piece of woodworking I’ve ever
encountered. I’ve lived all over the world and have seen so many
beautiful gallery works in Hawaii, etc. But, this vessel/urn by Van
is - by far - the most beautiful piece I’ve had the honor to hold and
own. Our family will treasure this for years and years to come.”
Thank You, Mr. Frazier!
Paulabel

As a former American History teacher, Ron’s hand-turned table lamps and nightlights from circa 1800s Colorado homestead fence posts assimilate nicely our western heritage and his well-used wood lathe. His contrast of texture, age, luster, and color, along with antique telegraph insulators, barbed wire, vintage spikes, and rusty hardware embrace his artistic theme of “dramatic difference.”

After a long career as an engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico, Bob found his retirement home in La Veta and a new hobby, wood turning.  His trial hobby became an experiment that has turned into many beautiful vessels for others to enjoy.  From the very first, very small oak bowl made from a piece of firewood taken from his own property on School Creek, to a variety of shapes and sizes turned from wood harvested from the La Veta area, New Mexico, Texas, and South Dakota, the world of wood turning has captured his imagination, skill, and artistic desire.

I started wood turning when I was about 14, when I brought home a used lathe.  After much practicing, I soon was making stand-alone ashtrays that I sold for $5. For many years I just made gifts for family, and in the late 1980s joined the Longmont Artists’ Guild in northern Colorado, where I was living at the time.  After retirement, I’ve been enjoying working with wood on a full-time basis.