Bill Mauzy

Artist Statement

I bought my first lathe in 2003 at the suggestion of my son. The first time I used a lathe was in 8th grade shop class. I turned a lamp, which still sits at my desk. I knew then that this was something that I wanted to do again. I have been turning continuously since 2004 but have truly been addicted to the process since around 2010. We woodturners call what we do “unlocking nature's secrets.” You never know what you are going to find when you start the process. Most of my bowls are twice turned. By this, I mean that I rough turn the bowl, leaving the wall thickness at about an inch. I then date it and put a coat of wax over the entire bowl. The wax slows down the drying process, helping to prevent any cracking. The bowl’s shape will distort during this period. After about 8-9 months, I will finish turning the bowl, revealing the perfectly round finished shape. I then sand and finish the piece. All of my finishes are food-safe (actually, all finishes are food-safe once the volatile organic compounds evaporate). There are times, however, that I will completely turn and finish a bowl in one day. This is one of the things I enjoy about turning wood. You can finish a project in one day! I also turn platters, candle sticks, rolling pins, Jefferson cups, and various hollow forms. Hollow forms are turnings that typically have a small entrance hole at the top and are somewhat round in shape. These have to be turned completely once they are started.