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            Tuesday, the 11th was the first day of my project spent at William Moore’s Helvetia studio. 

Bill is a well-respected elder statesman in the field of woodturning and sculpture, and has agreed to allow me to observe him as he works. Of course, he was also willing to share the knowledge he has accumulated over his years of experience.

            My day began at 9:45 when I pulled up the gravel driveway of Bill’s Helvetia home, where he does most of his work. Bill’s studio is situated behind his house, and he immediately greeted me outside, and invited me indoors.

            The studio/shop was somewhat messy, but quite comfortable. Bill described the project he was working on, which I will describe in future posts. Today, the plan was to get familiar with the way Bill conducts his work.

            Bill Moore works as a professor at the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts and the Pacific Northwest College of Arts. Working as a professor is less of a financial juggling act than relying entirely on woodturning for income, and liberates Bill from the fickle tastes of collectors. This in turn allows Bill to more freedom to innovate in his work, due to the fact that if a certain change in the aesthetics of his work is not attractive to his collectors, the consequences are significantly lessened.

Some prototyping is involved if Bill is new to the technique, or he isn't entirely sure what the piece will look like. Bill often painstakingly designs and draws every element of his work before he begins actually spinning wood and metal, which results in very precise and elegant work.