This talented woodturner
takes local to a new level. He’ll take wood
from a tree in your backyard and ‘turn’ it into a family heirloom. Meet Sonny of Sonny Jones Woodturner.
Hello Sonny!
Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you
discovered the art of woodturning.
My father was a farmer
and he turned on a homemade lathe when he needed tool handles. I first turned
in shop class in high school and then not again until many years later. When my
father died, my brother took his old lathe and renewed our interest. Both
of my brothers turn and the three siblings have taught and encouraged each
other over the years. Both of my brothers are excellent artisans also.
I hear that you will even create a custom piece
using wood from the client’s own tree. What is the most memorable piece you
created?
My most memorable piece
would have to be the urn that my brothers and I turned together for our
mother's ashes. I turned and hollowed the urn, my brother Ron turned the
base and my brother Tom turned the top finial. I had one client who asked
me to make an assortment of pieces from a tree that was in the backyard of
her family home. She gave the pieces to her relatives as gifts for
Christmas. I like the idea that my pieces might be handed down from one
generation to the next.
Do you have a favorite piece to make? What
about a favorite type of wood?
Turning
is therapeutic. So rather than a favorite piece, I enjoy the process. Of
course some pieces are more pleasing than others after they are finished. As
for a favorite type of wood, I prefer free wood. I, like most wood turners, do
not cut down trees to turn. I harvest local, sustainable wood
from trees that have to be removed or have fallen during a
storm. "Don't burn it. Turn it!" My friends will call me to tell
me about wood lying by the side of the road. When I get pieces of wood from
someone who has lost a tree, I often will make that person an heirloom piece in
exchange for the wood. The best woods are burls, which are those
bumps that sometimes grow on the side of trees.
What types of work are you showing at Arts on
the Square?
I am a chef by trade and so many of my pieces are culinary inspired. Bowls, rolling pins, wine bottle stoppers, mortar and pestles, platters and pepper mills. These items are functional. Other functional items include wooden pens and vessels that might be used to hold the ashes of a loved departed pet. I will also bring more artistic pieces.
Where do you primarily sell your work and you do
many festivals and events?
Art on Main, 71 North
Main Street, Pittston. I have been fortunate enough to have my work presented
at the Fine Arts Fiesta and the Wyoming Valley Art League in Wilkes Barre,
the Focus Art Show at the Butternut Gallery in Tunkhannock, the Northeastern
Pennsylvania Art Show and the "Art of the State" Show in
Harrisburg.
Where else can our readers find your work?
I would encourage
everyone to visit my website - sonnyjoneswoodturner.com
and if you do, please be sure to leave a comment.
Is there anything else you would like our
readers to know?
Art is everywhere and it
is in everyone. Explore your artistic side.
Business Name: Sonny Jones Woodturner
Hometown: Pittston, Pa
Website: sonnyjoneswoodturner.com
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