Introduction to Turning

Stephen Gleasner

Early Bay by Stephen Gleasner, plywood, dyes, 2005Stephen Gleasner demonstrating at the lathe

June 3-7

This course is designed for the novice turner, but also appeals to self-taught turners who want to “fill in the gaps” in their fundamental skills. Instruction addresses spindlework (turned between centers) and bowl and platter forms (turned on faceplates). Participants gain experience and confidence to continue their exploration of turning when they return home.

Through demonstration and one-on-one instruction, Stephen teaches:
• sharpening and use of gouges, skew chisels, scraping tools, and parting tools
• lathe safety
• selection of materials
• dynamic cutting techniques which surpass scraping and sanding
• turning of spindles
• turning bowls in green wood

Stephen Gleasner is an Appleton, Maine artist/turner with extensive experience in faceplate and spindle work, gained over a 20-plus-year woodworking career. Currently, he specializes in carved and dyed wall pieces that explore the patterning possibilities of Baltic birch plywood. Stephen’s work has been featured in Wood Art Today by Dona Meilach (Schiffer Publishing, 2003) and 500 Wood Bowls (Lark Books, 2004), as well as in numerous periodicals, including Woodwork and American Woodturner. He demonstrates turning nationally and was a featured presenter at the 24th annual symposium of the American Association of Woodturners in 2010. His website is www.stephengleasner.com.

Open to all.

Tuition: $715

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