Studio –           Eastern Shore of Virginia

Contact –        carole@carolevalentine.com

Website -        www.carolevalentine.com

About the Artist - Carole was born and raised on a Seaside farm in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  College, marriage and career took her away from her beloved Shore until 2000 when she returned and found herself with a house that included a workshop.

“I have always loved wood and I knew that I wanted to make use of the shop to learn some form of woodworking, but I really did not know where to start. When I was growing up, girls were not permitted to take Shop in school so I knew nothing about tools or working wood. I found a mentor who agreed to teach me furniture making. I began to accumulate the normal flatwork equipment and to learn a bit about making furniture, but something was missing. The spark just was not there. Then, on a whim in December, 2004, I ordered a Jet Mini lathe and the rest is history.  I turned my first bowl in March 2005, and in September 2005 ordered a full size lathe. I had found the missing spark.

I am passionate about wood – the look of it, the smell of it, the feel of it.  It has a warmth and depth that one will not find in any other artistic medium. Every piece is unique. Every piece is beautiful. Every piece is a work of art in its own right. Mother Nature is the artist – I am simply the framer.”

Member American Association of Woodturners

Exhibiting Member of the Eastern Shore of Virginia Artisans Guild

Artist Statement - The turning process begins with the design phase with attention paid to pleasing proportions and fair curves and then moves to the selection of raw wood for the piece in mind. Particular attention is paid to grain orientation and location of figure in the wood. The raw wood starts as a log which goes from chainsaw to band saw to lathe. If the wood is fresh (green) it may be cut into blanks, sealed and left to dry for months or years, or it may be rough turned to shape. After rough turning, it is left to air dry for up to a year before finish turning. The rough turned form will warp and move as it dries, so enough thickness must be left to allow bringing the piece back into “round”. On occasion, I may turn a piece of green wood to completion and allow it to warp and move as it dries, which can result in some interesting effects.

 Once on the lathe, a variety of hand-held tools are used to shape and hollow the wood. Once the piece is finish-turned, it is sanded starting with 120 grit and on through the various grits to as high as 12,000 micro-mesh depending on the desired finish.  If the piece is to have a natural finish (no oil), it is sanded to 12,000 then buffed on a Beal Buffing System which includes 3 different buffing compounds – Tripoli, White Diamond and finally Carnauba Wax. If the piece is to have an oil finish, it is sanded to 2000 grit, sealed with a 50% thinned lacquer wash and then Waterlox tung oil finish is applied. A final hand sanding through 12,000 micro-mesh and a final buffing and waxing completes the piece. If a high gloss is desired several coats are used with thorough drying and micro-mesh sanding in between coats. The piece is buffed after the final coat of finish has completely cured. All pieces receive a final coat of  Renaissance museum quality micro-crystalline wax polish.