David Entwisle
Do you concentrate on one medium, or do you work in several?
My primary medium as a woodturner is of course wood. I try to use hardwood grown or sourced in this country for much of my work. I use conventional food safe waxes and oils to finish my functional work.
My decorative work involves the use of coloured stains, acrylics and metallic finishes, and it is these media which form the basis for my exhibition. It is primarily an exploration of how the various finishing media I use enhance the wood I have used.
It is worth mentioning that there are two words used to describe the pattern of wood. The first is grain, which in its most simplistic interpretation, is the direction in which the wood grows. The second is figure, which again in a simplistic interpretation, is the pattern made by the varying complexities of the wood grain. A highly figured wood will be extremely decorative, attractive and usually much more valuable than a piece of plain wood of the same species. Unfortunately, highly figured wood is much more difficult to work and finish effectively, as the rotating wood presents so many different degrees of hardness and direction. This requires of the turner a much more careful approach to the piece on the lathe, a need to literally listen to the wood and respond to its needs. I love this particular technical challenge
Tell me about your workspace.
My workshop was built 2 years ago when I moved into Derbyshire. It is light, airy and has all the space I need (provided I am vaguely tidy!) It houses my lathes and other woodworking machinery, together with all the associated ancillary and consumables I need.
I have two regrets. The first was not providing sufficient insulation during its construction. It gets too hot in summer, and in winter can be so cold that adhesives and finishing products become unworkable. I plan to rectify this before this coming winter months.
Secondly, when building the ‘shop, I wasn’t sure where I was going to locate my lathe. The ground falls away from one end to the other by over 80cm and I had neither the time, energy nor finances to pour a concrete floor. Sadly the suspended floor I have lacks the stability I need to turn bigger pieces. My winter project is a concrete bed for my big lathe!
What inspires you?
I draw much of my inspiration from the world around us. A lifetime visiting some of the wildest places in the UK, from its highest peaks to the tidal estuaries our coasts, in all seasons, all weathers and all times of the day and night has provided the opportunity to witness some unforgettable images from night skies and the milky way to sunrises and sunsets of stunning tone and colour. Although I have inevitably had to slow down, I still enjoy exploring the countryside of Derbyshire.
I am keen to incorporate some of this inspiration in my more artistic woodturning and have begun a journey of exploration, experimenting in different forms and media, using native hardwoods as my canvas.
I have been inspired by world renown woodturners too many to mention, but I do acknowledge the ongoing influence of woodturning artists Jenny Starbuck, Nick Agar, Emma Cook, Mick Hanbury and Greg Gallegos.
Do you have a favoury manite piece in your Little Gallery exhibition?
I am happy with all of the pieces in my exhibition, but if I were pushed for an answer I think my small textured hollow-forms, and cosmos inspired platters are both ‘up there’. I love the effects I can achieve with iridescent acrylics to give a nebula like effect. Many years ago, I learned to dry brush my sons Warhammer miniature models in order to provide both depth and highlights to the figures. I am now developing that technique to give that same effect on my carved and textures pieces.
How did you start doing what you do?
I first became interested in woodturning, like many of my generation, at school. On leaving school, I continued to work with wood but reconnected with the wood lathe some 30 years ago and really haven’t stopped since. I first turned as a hobbyist, but more recently have been working as a semi professional turner. I demonstrate at all the Living Heritage calendar of shows, and sell my work to the public. Moving from Nottinghamshire to Denby Village, and joining The Derbyshire Makers has given me the incentive I needed to pursue a lifelong ambition to develop as a woodturning artist as well as a maker of functional items.
Do you work on your creative business full time, or do you have another job as well?
I am a retired career soldier and also worked in education as a teacher for a further 16 years. I left education to be able to realise my woodworking and woodturning ambitions nine years ago. Although I don’t necessarily work full time per-se, I do sometimes wonder where time goes!
If you have spare time, what do you do with it?
I am a lifelong fly fisherman and recently joined Derbyshire County Angling Club. I also tie my own fishing flies. I enjoy walking my two Corgis in our local area. Mostly however, my ‘spare time’ is spent in my workshop getting ready for the next show or the next event!
What’s next for you?
I plan to further develop my woodturning art, particularly making large textured, carved and coloured hollow forms, together with some much larger wall hangings. It is impossible for large pieces of wood to be dried to the core, so a further area of interest will be to turn wet, or more properly green, wood and watch the emerging shapes as moisture and stresses in the piece are released. Watch this space as they say…
