My approach to penmaking is primarily derived from my background in jewelrymaking. I treat each piece of wood as though it were a gem, and work to bring out the very best of its natural qualities.

Each time I create a pen, I hand-select the wood I want to use. I study its figure, grain pattern, and natural coloration and choose how I want to showcase them, and determine which style of pen is best suited to this type of wood. Then I cut the wood to display its unique characteristics to best advantage. I trim it to length, drill it, and insert the brass tubing that will provide the finished pen with support and stability. I then turn it to shape on the lathe - I tend to favor simple shapes that best show off the natural beauty of each type of wood. Finally, using a four-or-five step process (depending on the wood), I apply a finish to protect the wood and play up its grain and figure. I then assemble it using purchased parts selected to complement the wood's colors and style.

I use the same tools and techniques in turning my plastic and resin pens, except that they require the cutting edges to be exceptionally sharp, and the only finishing technique they need is being sanded and polished to a high gloss.

Front, left to right: A piece of amboyna wood; a pen blank cut from such a piece; a trimmed blank; a drilled blank with tubes inserted; turned and finished pieces; an assembled pencil. Back, left to right: A rack containing turned and finished pieces ready for assembly; prepared blanks ready to be turned.

Although I use woods that originate from all over the world, I am especially proud of my collection of local woods - wood from trees that grew in the San Francisco Bay Area and Santa Cruz. I obtain these woods from local arborists, friends, neighbors who recently had trees taken down. Some truly spectacular woods grow in this area, and many of my customers appreciate the connection to the region in which they live.

Pens from my Local Woods collection, left to right: California wild lilac; carob; olive; juniper; mountain laurel; spalted lemon; bottlebrush

For more pen photos, see the Current Catalog page.