About Us

 

Rob in the shopAbout Rob

I’m a dedicated wood artist who hopes my every piece to tells a story.  I create things based on a few first principles: sustainable and non-endangered wood, natural oil and wax finishes, organic forms, aesthetic wood combinations and all wood joinery. 

I began my wood art journey in 1978 under the tutelage of master woodworker Don Corbin.  Don trained me in traditional Colonial and Philadelphia style furniture making, wood turning, and the meticulous craftsmanship of hand tool work.  From Don and my grandfather who was a wood carver, I learned a deep love and respect for the materials and instruments of wood art, from wood selection and care, reading the grain, natural finishes all the way to sharp chisels.   My first piece, a solid American Cherry Colonial drop leaf table, completed in 1979 at the age of 14 is still in use in the dining room of my sister’s home in Harrisburg Pennsylvania.

I took a detour into the tech world to pursue a career that unfortunately afforded little time for hands on wood art. However, as I traveled the world for work, I built a library of inspiration from country French furniture with robust craftsmanship to the aesthetic simplicity of Japanese wood art.  

When I returned to wood art, I employed the lessons learned from my early life as the ‘how’  and the beautiful design styles I witnessed in my travels as the ‘what’ for my creations.  I strive for simplicity or natural and sometimes employ natural elements like flowers or precious stones.  

I'm also truly lucky to be married to an accomplished artist who has taken to sculpting wood with me.  Both of us have had our hands on each one of our pieces.  

Our Philosophy

Don Corbin once said to me, "metal is cheating."  He meant that using screws and nails where a wood joint would be better was just a lazy shortcut.    He also clicked his teeth every time he had to use polyurethane finishes.  My grandfather wouldn't carve a piece of wood that didn't come from a tree that he "hadn't met before."   All this means that we have a some basic principles we follow: 

  • We never intentionally purchase or use endangered wood.  We have received endangered wood that was mislabeled as a non-endangered species and used it when we did not have the ability to return it.  
  • We use natural finishes without heavy metals, harmful solvents, VOCs and so on.
  • We avoid using metal screws or nails in our pieces.  Examples of where we may use metal are in a table to deal with wood movement or to include a  decorative inlay. 
  • Our pieces are hand made and almost all are one of a kind.  
  • We may use epoxy in some products to fill natural wood features or to water proof the interior of a vessel.  When we do, we will clearly identify the product as including epoxy.