Our artisans...
Here we feature some of our braver Artisans who have taken woodturning from the weekend woodturning to the next level and become true artisans of their art. Stop by a meeting and you might meet one of them, or even better, see them doing a live demonstration of their work!
Scroll down to see works by:
Malcolm ZAnder
Jean-GIlles FRancoeur
Sam Lewinshtein
Kathy Daub
Gunilla and Paul Matteau
Larry katz
Lance Besharah (In Memoriam)
If you would like to display your creations, contact the WebMaster...
Malcolm Zander
jean-gilles FRANCoeur
Self-taught, Jean-Gilles has perfected cabinetwork over the last 20 years and has become passionate about woodturning in the last six years. He favors simple but creative designs that emphasize the raw character of the wood. He loves to combine different species and works with shapes, textures and colors to highlight the natural beauty of each piece. Jean-Gilles was awarded various prizes at the Valley Wood turners Competition, one of which being “ Best of Show” in 2004. He has contributed to the Government of Canada bank of presents for foreign dignitaries, has appeared on CTV’s Regional Contact and has exhibited his work in various municipal and commercial galleries in the Ottawa region.
Autodidacte, Jean-Gilles perfectionne les techniques de l΄ébénisterie depuis plus de 20 ans et est devenu passionné du tournage sur bois dans les six dernières années. Il affectionne un style simple et créatif qui met l'accent sur le caractère brut du bois. Il aime marier les espèces et composer avec les formes, les textures et les couleurs afin de mettre en valeur la beauté naturelle de chaque pièce. Jean-Gilles a remporté divers prix à la compétition Valley Wood turners, dont le "Best of Show" en 2004. Il a contribué à la banque de cadeaux du Gouvernement du Canada, a paru à l΄émission Regional Contact de CTV et a exposé ses oeuvres dans diverses galeries municipales et commerciales de la région d΄Ottawa.
Autodidacte, Jean-Gilles perfectionne les techniques de l΄ébénisterie depuis plus de 20 ans et est devenu passionné du tournage sur bois dans les six dernières années. Il affectionne un style simple et créatif qui met l'accent sur le caractère brut du bois. Il aime marier les espèces et composer avec les formes, les textures et les couleurs afin de mettre en valeur la beauté naturelle de chaque pièce. Jean-Gilles a remporté divers prix à la compétition Valley Wood turners, dont le "Best of Show" en 2004. Il a contribué à la banque de cadeaux du Gouvernement du Canada, a paru à l΄émission Regional Contact de CTV et a exposé ses oeuvres dans diverses galeries municipales et commerciales de la région d΄Ottawa.
Sam Lewinshtein
Taken at Gros Morne National Park, NF
"I was debating if this burl was too heavy to take home"
"I was debating if this burl was too heavy to take home"
Sam Lewinshtein is an Ottawa dentist and a woodturner. He is a graduate of the University of British Columbia dental faculty, and holds a B.Sc. from McGill University.
Sam spends his time working on a woodturning lathe, which he uses to create beautiful objects of art, such as bowls, vases, hollow forms and sculptural turnings made of wood. His most recent works incorporate delicate carvings of hollow forms.
Sam uses a variety of local woods, such as: maple, birch and cherry. He has a particular interest in ΄burls΄ which are an irregular growth on a tree trunk or root, and display a remarkable beauty of the wood΄s grain.
Each turned shape is a one of a kind artistic design. This is achieved by complimenting the inherent beauty of each burl, with a design that has unique colours, woodgrain, voids and bark incorporated into it, to expose the wood΄s natural beauty.
A number of Sam`s artistic woodturnings have won prizes in woodturning competitions. He is a member of the Valley Woodturners and the American Association of Woodturners.
Sam spends his time working on a woodturning lathe, which he uses to create beautiful objects of art, such as bowls, vases, hollow forms and sculptural turnings made of wood. His most recent works incorporate delicate carvings of hollow forms.
Sam uses a variety of local woods, such as: maple, birch and cherry. He has a particular interest in ΄burls΄ which are an irregular growth on a tree trunk or root, and display a remarkable beauty of the wood΄s grain.
Each turned shape is a one of a kind artistic design. This is achieved by complimenting the inherent beauty of each burl, with a design that has unique colours, woodgrain, voids and bark incorporated into it, to expose the wood΄s natural beauty.
A number of Sam`s artistic woodturnings have won prizes in woodturning competitions. He is a member of the Valley Woodturners and the American Association of Woodturners.
Kathy Daub
It took over a year for me to turn on the lathe that I was given by a friend but I haven't stopped turning since. I am a retired elementary school teacher and enjoy spending time in the workshop with my husband, Lawrie, who has helped me solve problems, become confident using machinery and learn about wood characteristics.
Having learned skills from friends in the Valley Woodturners club and from World of Wood Turners and others, I have made a great variety of turned pieces. I am a member of the artists in the Kanata Gallery
Having learned skills from friends in the Valley Woodturners club and from World of Wood Turners and others, I have made a great variety of turned pieces. I am a member of the artists in the Kanata Gallery
Gunilla and Paul Matteau
Gunilla and Paul Matteau are a team in every sense of the word. Gunilla is the "artiste par excellence" in her use of colour. She has done extensive research in materials and tools in order to express her artistry and is always looking for new ideas and new techniques. She is as well versed in the use of colours as she is in carving and pyrography. Gunilla gave our club a wonderful session on the use of colour a while back which can be found on this site΄s Technique page. It is well worth reading.
And then, there΄s Paul! Coming from an engineering background, everything Paul does is calculated to the "nth" degree. In a few short years, he has mastered numerous aspects of woodturning. His segmented works and his pepper mills reflect his great attention to detail. Paul also possesses excellent administrative skills and is a past president of the Valley Woodturners.
And then, there΄s Paul! Coming from an engineering background, everything Paul does is calculated to the "nth" degree. In a few short years, he has mastered numerous aspects of woodturning. His segmented works and his pepper mills reflect his great attention to detail. Paul also possesses excellent administrative skills and is a past president of the Valley Woodturners.
lArry katz
Larry Katz turns a variety of domestic woods, using mostly already fallen trees from eastern Ontario and western Quebec. While Larry produces a variety of forms reflecting his personal approach to balance and proportion, he is best known for his functional salad bowls and platters. Found on tables and displayed in homes across Canada and internationally. Larry’s turnings are pleasing to the eye, feel good to hold, and are beautifully finished. They not only serve as attractive vessels for salads, fruit and hors d’oeuvres, they also eloquently illustrate the life history, figure and grain patterns of trees.
Following his retirement as national research director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Larry has been turning full time for more than a decade. He is now considered an advanced turner. Larry regularly shows his work at artisan and craft shows and galleries. He maintains a gallery and workshop at his family home in Ottawa.
Larry is an active member of the Ottawa Valley Woodturners Club and served on the executive for many years. Larry is also a member of the Ontario Crafts Council and the American Association of Woodturners. He regularly contributes to the World of Woodturners, an online membership site begun in Canada that brings together woodturners from around the world.
Following his retirement as national research director of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Larry has been turning full time for more than a decade. He is now considered an advanced turner. Larry regularly shows his work at artisan and craft shows and galleries. He maintains a gallery and workshop at his family home in Ottawa.
Larry is an active member of the Ottawa Valley Woodturners Club and served on the executive for many years. Larry is also a member of the Ontario Crafts Council and the American Association of Woodturners. He regularly contributes to the World of Woodturners, an online membership site begun in Canada that brings together woodturners from around the world.
Lance Besharah (In Memoriam)
Lance Besharah was a high school music and technology teacher who resided and taught in Brockville , Ontario. He held a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from St. Francis Xavier in Antigonish, N.S. and an Honours Technology Specialist qualification from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. He was also the Music Director for the Brockville Concert Band. He passed in June 2022 but he was a strong member of the Association and we recognize his contribution through this Memoriam.
He was first introduced to the wood lathe at the age of 15 on a visit to his grandfather's house where he made a chess set on a home made lathe using old files ground as scrapers. After graduating and teaching music in Nova Scotia, Lance returned to Ontario (Brockville). Finding no jobs available in music, he started a custom cabinet making business in 1980 which he successfully operated for many years. During this time he began to rekindle his interest in the wood lathe producing many pieces for friends and family. Throughout his time as a cabinet maker, he mentored students as part of the local high school's coop program. As fate would have it, his shop burned down (1995) at the same time as an opening for a construction tech teacher became available at the high school which he accepted. Within a few years, the music teacher position became vacant and Lance now had the opportunity to marry all of his loves in one place at the same time.
In 2005 he joined a local Arts tour. Since then he joined many other Arts organizations and participated in many workshops and exhibitions. Beginning in 2007, Lance was a demonstrator and teacher to pass on his knowledge and passion for his art. In 2011 he became the lead teacher for the Valley Turners Club in Ottawa seeing 30 students each year.
In 2012 Lance retired from his teaching position with the Upper Canada District School Board and opened a woodturning school and gallery.
He was first introduced to the wood lathe at the age of 15 on a visit to his grandfather's house where he made a chess set on a home made lathe using old files ground as scrapers. After graduating and teaching music in Nova Scotia, Lance returned to Ontario (Brockville). Finding no jobs available in music, he started a custom cabinet making business in 1980 which he successfully operated for many years. During this time he began to rekindle his interest in the wood lathe producing many pieces for friends and family. Throughout his time as a cabinet maker, he mentored students as part of the local high school's coop program. As fate would have it, his shop burned down (1995) at the same time as an opening for a construction tech teacher became available at the high school which he accepted. Within a few years, the music teacher position became vacant and Lance now had the opportunity to marry all of his loves in one place at the same time.
In 2005 he joined a local Arts tour. Since then he joined many other Arts organizations and participated in many workshops and exhibitions. Beginning in 2007, Lance was a demonstrator and teacher to pass on his knowledge and passion for his art. In 2011 he became the lead teacher for the Valley Turners Club in Ottawa seeing 30 students each year.
In 2012 Lance retired from his teaching position with the Upper Canada District School Board and opened a woodturning school and gallery.
