Craig Lossing

Woodturning is a craft that utilizes a lathe. A lathe is a machine that grips a piece of wood and horizontally rotates it while the artist carves it using hand tools called gouges and skews. Hundreds of years ago lathes were powered by foot treadles, but modern machines use electricity. The tools have evolved too, using the strongest carbide steel and offering a wide variety of tips to precisely manipulate the wood as the artist desires. Originally, people associated the woodturner as creating objects such as bowls, platters, and most commonly spindles for staircases. Todayäó»s woodturner, such as Craig Lossing, goes beyond functionality to create technically challenging and visually stunning works of art.

For his material, Craig selects highly figured woods from around the world as well as the most interesting domestic burls. Burls are the growths on the side of a tree that are formed when too many branches are trying to sprout at the same time and in the same place, thus they grow into each other forming a bump. A burl can be as small as a grapefruit or larger than a man. The wood of a burl is easily recognizable by its dots and swirly pattern.

Many of Craigäó»s pieces are hollow forms, which means the block of wood is mounted on only one side and he hollows it out while it is spinning. These are challenging because after he has created the outside form he must remove all the wood inside through the small mouth at the top. He does this using bent tools and is essentially carving blind, relying only on his skill to keep from going through the side and keeping the wall thicknesses even. Hollow forms with natural holes are even more difficult because the carving tool could catch on the opening at any moment and the entire piece would be destroyed. Craigäó»s pieces with lids and ornamental spears also reflect a high mastery of this medium with their tight tolerances and delicate designs.

After a piece is completed and parted from the lathe, it usually must dry for a few days. Sometimes, pieces can be sanded smooth while they are still on the lathe, others must be sanded once they are removed. A finishing oil must then be applied to seal the wood and enhance its color. Craig prefers woodäó»s natural beauty, so he never applies any stains, but uses either Deft or mineral oil to finish his work.

Craig Lossing is a professional woodturner whose award-winning work has been sought after by fine galleries and knowledgeable collectors for over 20 years. Craig has won top awards in the best art fairs across the country. Craigäó»s work has been featured in numerous gallery showings and museum collections, as well as in national magazine articles and art books. Craig resides with his wife and three children in Lino Lakes, Minnesota.