Lewis, Stephen

 

STEPHEN LEWIS lives in Durango, Colorado, and loves wood, especially exotic wood from around the world. He prefers constructing his vessels rather than turning wood, because vessel construction uses far less material. Constructed vessels are made very near to their intended shape before they are brought to the lathe, rather than hollowed out on the lathe from a single block of wood, therefore, the actual turning results in very little waste. These vessels are usually crafted from several hundred individual pieces of wood, often of different species from various parts of the world. Stephen finds the challenges of inlay work and fitting small pieces together to make a whole especially challenging and rewarding.

 

Stephen's vessels are crafted from kiln dried wood, then sealed and covered with multiple coats of varnish. Other than occasional dusting, they require no maintenance. Although the wood is both seasoned and sealed, care should be taken to keep the piece from moisture. Direct sunlight over a long period of time should also be avoided.