Bill Lepak

“I have been woodworking for over 30 years. I started with cabinets and furniture, but in 2019 I discovered green turning. I haven’t looked back since, discovering a new passion for the craft. Every tree has a story. From the mightiest oak to the most elegant spruce, decades are kept within their wood. When a tree falls, whether by nature, disease, or man, most would say that its story ends, but not me. Every tree has a story, and my goal is to help it keep telling that story. Recovering fallen trees from the greater St. Louis area and Midwest, I turn logs into unique bowls, and other pieces perfect for a centerpiece, display, or even food. I use the once turned technique. I turn the wood to the final shape and size while the wood is still green. As the pieces dry, the wood tells its story, moving and distorting of its own accord. Sometimes they even crack during this process, just another piece to their long histories. Once the piece is fully dry, I then finish them with texture, paints, and other techniques. Though two pieces may begin in identical cuts, this drying process ensures each piece is unlike any other. Each piece is marked with the type of wood, date completed, and the city it was made in. Build out the history of your home or office today with a piece sharing its own history.”