​My interest in woodturning may have grown out of a lifelong love of forests, trees.

​Most likely I started my woodturning shop subconsciously many years ago, when I was born in a city surrounded by ancient Boreal Forests: The Taiga.  I remember calling humongous cedar and pine trees "Silent Giants” - to the amusement of my friends, and parents.
 
Since early age, I've been hiking in all kinds of forest for hours - learning, observing. But this my "love to trees", toiling deep in my heart and soul, took many moons to grow and develop.
 
In between tree hugging-hiking and woodturning, I graduated from the school and university, "traveled seven seas" visiting more than 75 countries. 

​As a cameraman I participated in more than 170 broadcast documentaries, short films, commercials, corporate videos, shot uncounted number of photos. It took me roughly half of a century - including studying, working and emigrating to Canada - to return back to my ‘roots’: trees.
 
I love turning simple shapes - bowls, platters, vases, boxes, pens. Or more complex - hollow forms, free-shape vessels. I am equally interested in segmented turning, spiralling, and texturing. ​Tree natural features - knots, voids, bark inclusions - I use to my advantage. Keeping a piece in most natural state is always my goal.

I admire working with local woods: maple, ash, elm, walnut, box elder and many more. Most of the wood I am using  has been salvaged one way or another from Montreal streets or suburbs. Otherwise, the only alternative for these trees would be firewood, mulch, particle boards, or garbage.
 
Wood often ‘speaks for itself’, suggests a character, shape, effect of a future vessel. Nevertheless, woodturning is a puzzle till the very last stages. Woodturner simply should "listen and follow".

​I am listening...​