Pierced Maple Leaf Bowl

My journey into woodturning began with ceramics. My husband and I were looking for a hobby we could do together and began taking courses. Creating pieces on the wheel allowed me to develop a strong sense of design and form, but waiting for the pieces to come out of the kiln was painfully suspenseful. Not surprisingly, when I observed a woodturning demonstration, I was immediately drawn to the "instant gratification" of watching a turned object take shape on the lathe. I took my first lesson in 2000, joined the Fraser Valley Woodturning Guild and soon became passionate (obsessed?) with turning. Over the years I gradually progressed from basic turning to a more creative art form; enhancing my work with carving, piercing and colouring. My work is heavily based on the beauty of the wooded environment on Sumas Mountain (where I grew up) surrounded by west coast trees of cedar, broad leaf maple, vine maple, birch and alder. Most of my turnings are made from the wood of the broad leaf maple, which we harvest from our property (from a cluster of trees we affectionately refer to as "the sisters")

- Gloria Herberts