Over the past 45 years my occupations ranged from sign painting and carpentry to cartography and graphic design. The last 25 years as a graphic artist, primarily in the world of geology, took me from pen and ink to computer illustration and design. Upon retirement a few years ago, I went back to my roots and jump-started my original love for woodworking. As my interest grew, so did my arsenal of tools, culminating in a fully outfitted studio work space. I started making Nautilus shells as Christmas gifts for the family, and then I just didn’t stop. Over time I refined the looks and sizes of the shells as well as their bases. In the midst of my shell craft, as with most dedicated woodworkers, I experimented with other shapes and settled on the spiral horn as a favorite. The fluid and gentle turning of the horn creates a dynamic piece, that when rotated even a few degrees can change dramatically. I try to capture the original beauty of the varied wood I choose, and pay special homage to the sense of place from which the wood originated. It gives me great pleasure to take something from nature and give it a second life in art.
Please feel free to contact me at
joel@lardonartwood.com