About The Artist…

Harriet, who helped her husband, Don, in his architectural woodrurning business for many years was taught by him and has now been doing artistic woodturning for over 10 years. She is a retired licensed land surveyor and worked for the Virginia Outdoors Foundation for 12 years.

Harriet also sells her work at the Burwell Morgan Mill Art Show and the Bluemont Vineyard. She is one of the founding members of The Gateway Gallery and Gift Shop a cooperative which is located west of the town of Round Hill at one of the best known tourist stops, Hill High Orchards which dates back many, many years as a favorite stop of D.C. residents out for a weekend in the country.
Harriet always accompanies her husband to the national and some local woodturning symposiums where she finds much to learn from watching demonstrations by nationally and internationally recognized wood turners.

A member of the American Association of Woodturners, Harriet is also active in the Capital Area Woodturners, Apple Valley Woodturners and Catoctin Area Turners.

Harriet's work was recently recognized in a hard cover book titled "Reflections of Clarke County Virginia" featuring over 100 area artists.

After my husband began his architectural woodturning business I decided to try my hand at turning wooden bowls. I always loved wood but never had the opportunity to work with it other than having built several houses. Don felt I had a talent so when I had time I would turn a few pieces which we began taking to fairs. Because I was working full time it was not until a few years ago that I began to expand my woodturning.

When I work with wood I prefer it to be as natural as possible. I do not color my wood. I love the natural color and grain. These characteristic help shape the outcome and purpose of the piece. I have had no formal training in either woodturning or art. I was raised and lived most of my life in Round Hill, VA. Through the help of my self-trained husband, what I have learned at our club meetings and at the national symposiums I began to produce pieces which were admired and purchased.

What determines the outcome of the piece you are turning? Much is determined by the size of the piece, its hardness or softness, density, flaws (which can add to its artistic appeal) as well as what happens during the turning. A mistake which sends a chunk flying can not only completely change your original design idea but often results in a more desirable piece. It can also injure the turner. It is the wood itself which may have a great influence on the finished piece.

Although I hope to learn to do a little carving to enhance some pieces, especially wood which is very bland, I still prefer to keep it as natural as possible. My pieces can can be enhanced by keeping and working with flaws (including large holes) and especially using the natural edge (outside edge of the tree including the bark.)This kind of work is my favorite.

I prefer variety. I turn everything from pens (seldom) and wine bottle stoppers to large (2 ft. in diameter) platters and wall hangings.

The Gateway Gallery which has over 20 members has now been open for almost 3 successful years. My work can also now be found at Art in the Village a new artist's cooperative in Leesburg, VA.

Offering for sale: bowls, platters, vases, ice cream scoops, jewelry, letter openers, wine bottle stoppers, Christmas tree ornaments and ring holders.