Bradford Chaucer was a fine
member of the American
Association of Woodturners,
and the local chapter, the
Wilmington Area Woodturners
Association. He attended The
Arrowmont School of Arts and
Crafts and began taking
turning classes with some
incredible woodturners. One
in particular, Ray Key from
across the pond has had great
influence on his development
as a woodturner. He taught
Bradford to see his work in a
new way, that of "pure
form."
“My goal in creating
a turning from a piece of
wood is to find and release
the "Purest" form I can
discern lurking therein. In
turning a bowl, platter or
hollow form, I first strive to
reach those flowing curves
and lines that reflect my view
of the purest form achievable
for the piece.
I have
recently begun incorporating
patinated metallic leaf and
iridescent lacquer coatings in
some of my work, as well as
textured or carved surfaces.
My aim with any of these
surface embellishments or
enhancement is that they
must complement the form
and wood, never fight or
compete with them. A piece
with little figure or grain in the
wood becomes a canvas for
surface treatments. I find
equal challenge in the finest
piece of exotic hardwood, to
the partially decayed gnarly
piece of local hardwood
discovered on the ground." Read more...
