“Thys Carstens is a retired pharmacist from South Africa. Like many other WoWies Thys is primarily a self-taught wood turner. He learned from books by Dale Nish and says he was further inspired by the work of David Ellsworth.Thys developed his skills until he was sought out as a demonstrator locally and nationally. His efforts were recognized with a Silver Medal in the Vita 2000 exhibition. Thys helped to found two woodturning clubs in South Africa.Using a variety of native and imported timbers Thys creates work which sometimes incorporates naturally occurring voids filled with resins. Particularly striking is his use of copper resins coupled with a highly polished finish that provides incredible depth in his art. His portfolio includes boxes, segmented work, hollow forms, platters and bowls.WoW is proud to celebrate Thys Carstens as Featured Artist of the Month for August 2017.”
The World of Woodturners site (WoW) originated in November, 2001. At its start it was the only interactive site where woodturners could post photos and descriptions of their work and engage in discussion about their art. WoW members think of themselves as a family. They are artists who have become friends and who willingly share their talents and skills. This is a place where the novice freely mixes with the seasoned professional in an atmosphere of shared respect. No one is anonymous and everyone uses their own name. From this venue has arisen some incredible art, some of which can be seen in the public gallery. Enjoy this display of fine work. Access to the site itself is at no cost, by obtaining a membership invitation from an existing WoW family member or contacting site administration at wowadmin@shaw.ca. Include your name and a brief description of your woodturning experience in the message.The site is owned and maintained by the World of Woodturners, Inc., a non-profit organization.