Leslie Pedersen

Les Pedersen, Wood Art Collaborator

Long before I was a woodturner or Artist I spent a long career in construction management, applying my creativity to the construction of roads, subdivisions, shopping centers, and the like.  Though I managed projects, I often envied the actual workers who applied their own creative minds and hands to build the actual thing themselves.  Over the years I would also stop by art galleries to admire fine wood turning, the collaboration between beautiful wood and the creative mind of the artist, crafting graceful forms and fine finishes that turned a block of wood into a work of art.  I did not think of myself as such an artist, but unknowing to even myself, the seed was planted.  

The seed germinated after many years when my father thought I might enjoy woodturning and he sent me a small lathe!  Clueless as to how to use a lathe or make a bowl, the seed planted in the galleries of others germinated and began to grow.  Inspired by the exquisite form of the Hawaiian calabash, I attempted to make them myself, small ones, not knowing this was a very difficult wood turning task.  But starting with what was difficult and refusing to give up despite many failures, I eventually gained a measure of skill.

As wood bowls began to multiply around the house my wonderful wife Wendy one day proclaims, “if you’re going to keep making these, you’re going to have to start selling them!” I certainly wanted to keep making them!  I packed up my bowls and started sharing my creative work at a variety of “Farmer’s Markets.”  I found I so enjoyed sharing my work and seeing the joy it gives other to look, touch and enjoy them.  There is so much joy in creating pleasure for others!  I began to hear a term spoken by others and applied to myself that sounded very strange to my ears, “Artist!”  I had not thought of myself as an artist, but I suppose an artist is one who is considered one by those who observes one’s art.  Surprise!  I’m an artist!

At the heart of my art, I find I am a wood art collaborator.  Whether collaborating with another artist or collaborating only with the inherent art within the wood itself, I strive for synergy among artists that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts.  I find this collaboration never grows stale just as merging streams are in a constant state of change and new beauty forever emerges.  My hope is that my art will merge also with your sense of beauty creating a new collaboration through the eyes of every observer!