Bob McClurg

Artist
Loomis/Penryn/Newcastle
35
BOTH Weekends
Photography, Woodworking
Contact Information
Bob McClurg
Teaches Art Classes
Yes
Adults
Woodturning, Pyrography
Location
Open by Appointment Year-Round
Yes
About

As a wood worker most of my life, wood turning was always something back in my mind as a hidden passion. Once I bought my first lathe, it was clear to me that this was within me all along. I let a piece of wood talk to me, to tell me what it needs to become. As I turn, the conversation continues, and the results are a magic blend of creativity and technical ability. Experimenting with different woods and products to reveal refreshing images is always on my mind.

I’m most known for my pepper mills and handled kitchen items, perhaps since I sell hundreds each year. It’s a very different process, doing production work and creating a gallery piece. After hours of thought, watching wood and perhaps resin turn into a special creation can be very rewarding. With my resin pieces, color and selection of wood start before I even make a mold. It’s a time-consuming process and so many variables in that process can dictate such a surprising result.

Often Pyrography is used on my pieces, and it can change the theme dramatically from an otherwise basic piece to something dramatic. Using inlaid crushed stone is a process I use often to accentuate some of the features of the piece and give it its own uniqueness. Blending many of these techniques can completely change the whole idea of a “chunk of wood”.

As only one of about 80 practicing “ornamental turners” in the US, I enjoy the intricate detail of Rose Engine turning. It is a slow process and very methodical, but so satisfying. It’s just hard to find the kind of time it requires. Whether it’s making a pepper grinder, a gallery piece or using my Rose Engine lathe, it is a rewarding challenge, knowing that each time I create something, it will have its own personality. And that it is usable is just a bonus.