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Interview with Joash, a young woodturner from Perth.What kinds of objects do you create with wood? I create everything that comes to mind. I turn bowls, vases, platters, candle holders, kitchen utensils, pots, boxes, urns, pens, and many many other items. How old were you when you tried your first woodturning?I was 11 years old, when I first started woodturning. How did your interest in the craft begin? I was introduced to a friend, and I was going to do woodwork at his place, since he had all the tools. I had had no experience in woodworking before that. This man introduced me to all fields of woodworking, but when he taught me the lathe, I was hooked. I still do a little constructive woodwork, but mainly turn on the lathe. And what attracted you to it? Just how you can transform a weathered piece of wood, into an object of beauty and value. How did you go about learning how to do woodturning?I was taught by a friend who had had many years experience. I learned from him for about 6 months, and then I was on my own.
What are you working on lately? Since I can create items in a matter of minutes and hours, it is hard to say what I am working on. I turn whatever piece that meets my eye when I walk into my workshop. I have just finished a box. It is a semi platter/box, with a lid. Darker wood is Jarrah, and the finial lid, is Lemon Scented gum. Can you describe it? It is a semi platter/box, with a lid. Darker wood is Jarrah, and the finial lid, is Lemon Scented gum. It is hollowed out very thin, so you can store valuables inside it. What types of wood do you generally use? I use whatever timbers that come to hand, which could be from across the globe. But the timbers I usually turn are Sheoak/Jarrah/Marri/Jarrah Burl/Jarrah/ all matter of burls/Sugargum/Bluegum Do you think of yourself more as an artist, a craftsperson or a tradesman? I am an artist, because I can transform pieces into n object of beauty, but am also a sort of tradesman, because it provides my income. Where do you look for inspiration when starting a new piece?  Whenever I read a book/video on woodturning, I memorize all the shapes and sizes and different things that can help me along. I usually have the shape and size, when I have the wood in my hands, and I can just see a shape, and then when I start cutting, it is there. If you had to choose a favourite piece you have made what would it be? The latest piece that I have made. I described it above, it is the box made of Jarrah. Which type of work do you get the most pleasure out of creating: a functional item or something that is purely decorative? I enjoy creating expensive delicate art pieces that sell for a lot, and are meant as purely ornamental then to be used. What has been the most difficult aspect of your craft for you to learn? To master the different chisels, if you are not a woodturner, it is hard to understand. You cannot just pick up a chisel, and slam it into the wood, you have to learn the delicate cuts that give you the mirror finish. You may have to memorize up to 2000 manoeuvers with the chisel. That has been the most challenging aspect of woodturning. What are the largest and smallest pieces you have made? I have created a large platter out of Jarrah. It is around 450mm wide. The smallest item, is hard, because when I turn little decorative finials, they can be a few mm across. Probably the smallest Items I have turned are pens. I prefer to work on large heavy pieces, because they are a good challenge 
Woodworking interview continued
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