Distance Mastery Student Show

The Northwest Woodworking Studio in Portland, Oregon showed off the work of its graduating Distance Mastery Students in an exhibit at Rejuvenation Restoration Lighting and House Parts in September. Designed for self-directed students with their own shops, Gary Rogowski provides one-on-one instruction in fine furniture construction focusing on design, joinery, and building skills. Over the two years, students learn to master hand and power joinery, carcase construction, and frame and panel work in the completion of 12 pieces. The Distance Mastery Program begins every September. Please contact us for a prospectus.

My first piece of furniture was a twenty-two foot wide entertainment center that I built for my home in Sandy, Utah. I built it because I figured the cost of the tools and wood were significantly cheaper than paying someone else to do it. I was wrong about the cost of the piece but I did develop an appreciation for woodworking that has driven me to continue on.

After that project I went on to make craftsman style pieces from plans that I'd purchased from magazines. From there I enrolled in the Distance Mastery Program at the Northwest Woodworking Studio. Over the past two years I have been introduced to design concepts and furniture making techniques that have been demonstrated with each subsequent project. But more important was the exposure to different styles and periods. Many of my pieces have been influenced by the Art Deco period. As I've built those pieces I'd listen to the music of the time and contemplate what the famous designers of that period where thinking when they executed their craft. Right now I am studying the gilded age as can be seen by the three drawer chest on display.

After completing the Distance Mastery Program I will continue my studies in marquetry and finishing while doing commissioned pieces from my home. My long term goal is to design original museum quality pieces that provoke thought and emotion.

‘Waterfall’ Dressing Table and Chair David Corey 28”h x 24”w x 16”d maple, macassar ebony, blackwood, poplar, vinyl sealer, laquer, wax, shellac, microsuede NFS
Ebonized Three Drawer Chest David Corey 31¼”h x 41”w x 20”d ebonized walnut, figured satinwood, costello, ebonized & gold-leafed mahogany, white oak, vinyl sealer, lacquer, wax, brass, marble NFS   The chest features hand inlaid satinwoods on the legs, styles, rails, and drawer face panels. The drawer pulls are cast yellow brass.

I live in El Cerrito, California in the San Francisco East Bay Area and work as a Health Physicist at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley. As long as I can remember I'd had day dreams about having a wood shop in my garage and building furniture. Pretty exciting daydreams, huh? Finally just about 5 years ago I took my first woodworking class at Laney College in Oakland, CA. Everyone in the class built a simple shaker table. I was just thrilled that I was able to take a chunk of wood and work it into a beautiful, strong piece of furniture, and of course I was hooked.

Now that the program is over, I'm going to keep doing what I've been doing, making furniture for our home and for family and friends. I plan to take some of Gary's one week courses now that I'll have more time and I basically just plan to enjoy myself in the shop and keep refining my skills.

Liquor Cabinet Keith Heinzelman 60"h x 22"w x 11"d mahogany, eucalyptus, maple NFS
Small Cabinet Keith Heinzelman 27"h x 18"w x 15"d mahogany, hickory NFS

After years as an ER physician, running from one disaster to another, never being able to spend as much time solving a problem as I’d like, I decided to change careers. Now I can plane off 1/128th of an inch, check the fit and try again until I get it as perfect as I want.

I have studied for the last three years with Gary Rogowski, Master Woodworker, author and director of The Northwest Woodworking Studio. My style is a lighter version of Arts and Crafts Movement, in both wood species and proportions and I employ techniques such as hand cut dovetails, mortise and tenons, bent lamination, carving and inlay.

Viewing Bench Jim Hoyne 18¼”h x 60”w x 22”d sapele, wenge, Gabon ebony $2,250.00
Ten Drawer Chest (no photo available) Jim Hoyne 54”h x 31”w x 22”d Honduran mahogany, brass, fused glass $8,000.00

I was born and raised in Minnesota where, at the ripe old age of 8, my dad enlisted my “help” at building the family cabin down by the lake. During my 21 year career in telecommunications, my source for woodworking knowledge was mostly books and magazines, with a few short specialty seminars picked up along the way.

Now living in the Seattle area, I’m focusing more on fine furniture pieces. And as a result of the Mastery Program at The Northwest Woodworking Studio, I’ve discovered the value in mastering the use of hand tools for both joinery and surface treatments. It’s often times the very subtle touches that make a piece truly stand out, and hand tools are key to many of those little details. I’m continually making progress at refining my skills, and enjoying it every step of the way.

Violin Display Case George Knutson 32”h x 15”w x 6”d Philippine mahogany, fiddleback maple, shellac NFS   This case was built to house my grandfather’s violin. I wanted it to be simple enough so that the violin was the focus, yet draw on the violin itself for its character. For the back of the box, fiddleback maple was an obvious choice; figuring of the wood echoes that of wood used in violin construction. Hand-cut dovetails are an example of old-world solid construction used for objects that were built to last and be passed on for generations, like the violin. The door-pull was turned, shaped, and stained to match the tuning pegs on the violin.

I live in Medford, Oregon and work as an accountant. I started woodworking about five years before starting this program and I make furniture for the enjoyment of it. I like trying new techniques, building whatever I see that inspires me. Upon completion of the Mastery Program, I’ll start on a long list of furniture projects for the house.

Standing Cabinet with Drawers Tom Martin 45"h x 26"w x 14"d maple, fiddleback maple veneer, cherry, paint, patinated silver, copper leaf NFS
Hall Table Tom Martin 30”h x 42” w x 12”d maple, paint, patinated silver, copper leaf NFS

My pursuit in serious woodworking has only begun in the past few years but I’ve always had the passion to create. Whether it was playing classical music in an orchestra or creating software, it was always about bringing ideas to life. By day I’m an engineer for a small software company and by night I pursue woodworking, music, computing, or wherever my passion takes me. I was fortunate to have a mother who always made things. My family wasn't the wealthiest but could always make something wonderful out of materials that most others would consider scraps. My hope is that other people would enjoy some of my furniture in their day to day lives as much as I enjoy making these modest pieces.

Hall Table with Drawers Tony Romano 30”h x 37”w x 19”d quilted maple, cherry, ebony $1,200.00

I’ve had an interest in furniture design and construction for past 25 years. I’m influenced by Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau design especially the Glasgow School and the work of Charles Renie Mackintosh. I currently design and build original pieces and furniture by commission. I’m also currently in private practice, psychotherapy in Iowa City, Iowa along with my spouse, Susan Fisher and I hold a doctorate from the University of Iowa.

David W. Young David Young Furniture Design 2749 Lake View Dr. NE Solon, Iowa 52333 319-331-4882 www.davidyoungfurnituredesign.com Chest of Drawers David Young 54”h x 24”w x 14”d cherry, wenge, maple, glass, tinted glass $ 3,250.00