John Herrling

Wood

website: www.mistyhollowwoods.com
email: eherrling@msn.com
phone: (360) 928-9771

I turn to honor and celebrate the wood.

My passion is creating one-of-a kind bowls and platters that showcase the beauty, uniqueness, and history of that particular piece of wood and the life it had as a tree. I embrace what others may call “defects” and use them to highlight the wood’s life story. Like wrinkles on a person’s face, they show the character of the wood.

Wood turning, for me, is always a two-way conversation. I listen to what the wood is both telling and showing me that it wants to be as I shape each piece on the lathe. Each characteristic that appears… a bark inclusion, a knot, insect marks, the sometimes varying patterns in the grain, spalting…tells a story of where that wood has been, and I use these characteristics to shape what it is becoming now.

Some of my pieces are functional, some are art, most are both. I use a variety of mostly local woods. Each piece is polished and buffed with a locally made food safe beeswax finish and will last for many years. Some people purchase these bowls and platters to enjoy now and to pass down later.

I also create custom pieces from client’s own wood if desired.

John and Eileen live in Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula with their 3 rescued dogs and many trees.