Biography

Jim Piper

Wood has always been part of my life. I was raised in a logging community in southwest Oregon, learning about wood and the forest around me as I grew up. In the early ’80s I milled timbers for the construction of our home from trees that grew on our homesite northwest of Portland, Oregon.

After observing the process of woodturning a few times over several years, in 2011 I was ready delve into this new and exciting venture. I imagined woodturning might capture my interest to the point of an obsession, and how true it was.

From early in my new endeavor, I focused on making simple, elegant forms, as they provided the greatest visual fulfilment. My association with artists for more than 40 years –first for 25 years as a commercial photographer, and later as a craftsman – instilled an ardent respect for form and craftsmanship, which I continually strive to achieve with my work. Form is often the initial element of assessment when observing a three-dimensional piece of artwork, and quality separates an object from one that earns only casual passing interest to one that earns long-lived appreciation.

About two years ago, as my interest in embellishment expanded, my awareness of how I could express my interests through my work began to flourish. My turned pieces evolved into a body of work that reflects my life experiences and love of nature. Walking the edge, moving outside my comfort zone and pushing my limits to reach new levels of proficiency, has brought unexpected and gratifying results. Consequently, a completely new vocabulary, sometimes quite abstract, has evolved.

I find inspiration omnipresent, although one of my favorite sources is our natural environment. The Pacific Northwest provides a diverse landscape including beaches, mountains, high desert, rivers, and a variety of forests and open meadows. A float trip through the Grand Canyon in December 2016, passing through millennia of rock formations and erosion of canyon walls thousands of feet high, provided a never-ending source of inspiration and concepts that I continue to pursue. Wherever I go, I find that the world around me provides endless inspiration for new creativity and personal expansion.