Jim Talley's interest in woodworking began very early when he helped his father, a finish carpenter, in his shop. As an adult, Talley has always appreciated the variety, textures, grains and colors of wood. Many times, the original piece of wood provides the inspiration for the final piece.

After taking a university level art class, Jim began acquiring woodturning machinery, making his own tools, and teaching himself turning techniques. He has taken several classes at craft schools and attended seminars taught by nationally-known wood turners. Jim has also been an assistant instructor for several classes and conducted seminars and demonstrations for woodturning clubs and companies. At the present time, Talley is the president of a local woodturning club.

Woodturning is done on a lathe with specific tools designed for attaining various forms from a raw chunk of wood. The wood may be dry or green, from a recently cut tree.

Of his work, Talley says:

Various sizes and forms of turned objects interest and inspire me, but in the last several years, I have become known among wood turners for turning miniature goblets. These are 1 to 3 inches tall, with toothpick-sized stems (turned off center) with captured rings.

I pursue woodturning as a serious pastime from which I derive much pleasure. When I see a tree on the ground or a chunk of firewood, I can almost see a bowl waiting to be "turned out" of that wood.

Email: 4talleys@bellsouth.net

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