Breezy Hill Turning

Turned Wood Art by Michael Foster

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Fibonacci Sunburst
Loosely based on the Fibonacci series of numbers.
Available

Fibonacci Sunburst
Chakte Viga, Pao Amarillo, Bloodwood, Ebony and Curly Maple, 17h x 18"d 

Skyphos
Inspired by Phoenician pottery from the 7th century BC
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Ebony and holly, 8.5"H x 8"D, lacquer

All American
Created as a tribute to the victims of 9/11.
Available

All American
Maple, cherry, walnut, elder burl, 18.5"H x 17.5"D, Waterlox

Saint Brendan's Cross
Inspired by the Celtic cross honoring the Irish monk, St. Brendan. The cross is a figure with the tails of 4 dolphins meeting in the center to form a cross.
Available

Saint Brendan's Cross
Curly maple, claro walnut, Waterlox, 10"H x 9"D

Segmented Mirrors
Ash, Purpleheart, Walnut

Segmented Mirrors
Yellowheart, Mahogany, Black Palm
Walnut, curly maple, ebony

Crimson Pagoda
Oriental influences in design
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Crimson Pagoda
Bloodwoood, ebony, yvera, pernambuco, 25"H x 12"D

Classic Vase
Yellowheart, mahogany, maple burl, ebony, 26"H x 14"D, Waterlox
Sold

Classic Vase
The piece displayed in the Art Gallery in Sitka where it sold.

Diamonds in Alaskan Birch
Alaskan birch, yvera, kingwood, mahogany, 14"H x 10"D, Waterlox finish
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Diamonds in Alaskan Birch
Detail

Golden Urn
Created as a gift for my parents 50th Anniversary
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Golden Urn
Maple, luan, birch burl, amboyna burl, claro walnut, bubinga, 12"H x 10"D, Waterlox

Royal Spiral
Wenge, bloodwood, bubinga, curly maple, purpleheart, ash, quilted maple
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Royal Spiral
My largest segmented form at 26"H x 18"D

Inside Out
The form inspired the name
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Inside Out
Zebrawood, yvera, pernambuco, ebony, 15H x 10"D, Waterlox

Through the wormhole
Inspired by my love of physics, astrophysics and SciFi
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Through the wormhole
Through the Wormhole", maple, walnut, bubinga, yellowheart, purpleheart,ebony

Queen Nephertite's Lotus Vase
Ash, purpleheart, wenge, maple, 15"H x 9"D, Waterlox finish
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Queen Nephertite's Lotus Vase
Detail

Maple Lotus
quilted maple, bloodwood, holly, purpleheart, 6"H x 14"D
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Maple Lotus
Side view

Segmented Work

These photos show some of the segmented work I have completed. Hundreds of pieces of wood are cut and assembled to create the patterns that you see. Woods from all over the world are used for their natural colors and properties. Each piece requires careful planning and meticulous attention to detail to construct. I have enjoyed the challenges they present.

Most of this work was completed while I lived in Alaska. My access to large pieces of hardwoods were limited and storing such wood presents challenges. Segmented work uses kiln dried wood which was much easier for me to ship to Alaska and store without problems. I no longer do much segmented work as I have unlimited access to great hardwoods out my back door and my inerests are better realized using solid wood. I wouldn’t rule out my return to segmented work at some future date.

Fibonacci Sunburst was inspired by my investigation of the Fibonacci series of numbers. While not organic as some of the carved pieces, the Fibonacci series is reflected in the numbers of elements (types of wood, number of spirals, numbers of layers....).

Skyphos was based on a piece of Phoenician pottery of the geometric era, about 1000 BC, that I saw in the Boston Museum of art. Interestingly, a piece of pottery of this same shape and design was also done by a Navajo potter.

I was on a trip to the Maine seacoast and got inspired by some jewelry that featured 4 dolphins in a ring which formed a Celtic cross. Researching the story behind the design led to really interesting history and the inspiration for the piece, St. Brendan’s Cross. I wrote a very brief biography of the story behind the cross and the monk which can be found here.

I completed the piece All American shortly after 9/11 as a tribute to the victims of the disaster. Looking into the piece there is a suggestion of stars and stripes. All the wood in the piece is from the US, hence the name.

Golden Urn was a gift to my parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. It was the first turned piece that I tried my hand at doing some carving on.