Member of the Month
Meet Ric Erkes!
Ric Erkes – The Art of Woodturning
Woodturning involves taking a piece of wood, often destined for some firewood
pile, and manipulating it on a lathe with hand held tools while respecting the
beauty of what Mother Nature has already created. Wood is a natural medium
full of imperfections, diverse grain patterns and colors, and even sometimes,
nails, bullets, and wire. The job of a woodturner is to look past the bark and
imagine the hidden swirls of color and grain and decide how best to show it off.
My woodturning career has been an evolution of exploring the creative possibilities
that a lathe can provide. I have been a member of the American Association of Woodturners for over 20 years and have studied under numerous masters of the craft. I routinely give demonstrations at various Woodturning clubs and have instructed at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Along the way I have accumulated a few awards but more importantly I cherish the friendships that have developed in this community of Woodturners.
My professional career began as an Air Force fighter pilot and transitioned to a commercial airline pilot. I spent much of that time as an instructor pilot, and now it seems natural to be instructing others in the art of woodturning. If you would like to explore the world of woodturning be sure to look me up.
Ric Erkes
@Its_Rics_Turn
