Therapy for the Winter Blues
Len Menard writes; “I spent a good part of my working career in the floor covering industry, both selling and installing. I retired in 2003 on disability due to back problems, and my wife and I moved fromSurreywhere we had lived for 30 years, to the peaceful sea side City of Powell River. This city maintains much of its original small town flavor and is a haven for hundreds of very talented artists and musicians”.
MAPLE BURL & TURQUOISE BOWL
“My wood all comes from local sources such as urban foresters and local land owners who have to remove trees. Like every other turner I’ve ever met, I have a great reverence for wood, and feel a duty to reveal the best in each piece I turn. Often this requires a lot of extra time and effort to include natural defects that create the distinct one of kind look of the piece. I also spend a great deal of time on my sanding and finishing to ensure that each piece gets the finish that will best compliment the grain and colour of the piece.
MESQUITE & TURQUOISE BOWL
I use Tung oil to finish the great majority of my work. I put on anywhere from 3 to 5 coats of oils with drying and sanding between each coat. This method requires at lot of time however I like the deep sealing and hard wearing, lustrous finish that this method provides. The final finish is a coat of museum conservator’s wax which prevents fingerprints from showing on the surface”.
YELLOW CEDAR BURL BOWL
“Turning not only brings me pleasure and fulfils the desire to create something beautiful; it is also a therapy for the winter blues. I’m back to singing and playing guitar again since I moved here, and I go out to the farmer’s market to perform every Sunday, as well as doing most of the festivals that occur here every year”.
SPALTED BIRCH BOWL
You can see more of Len’s beautiful work atw
