Joe Fulton
I have been building things for most of my life (I've been a general contractor for over 25 years) and have built a lot of cool things. When I started turning bowls it was the first time I really felt like an artist. I love taking old stuff and turning it into amazing new stuff. Most of the pieces I make are reclaimed wood from a construction job or downed trees destined for the firepit or the dump. When anyone asks me how I know what to do with each piece of wood, my answer is: 'I ask the wood what it wants to be, and then try to pull that out as best I can.'
Where Did I Learn to Work With Wood?
I've been building things pretty much as long as I can remember. I remember helping build trusses for my uncle's house when I was 9. While I was in high school, I took building trade classes and helped build houses during the summers. I've always enjoyed bringing someone's dreams to life; whether it be an entire building, a remodeled room in their house, or as simple as a new wooden something to accent the space. Several years ago I spent some time at my father-in-law's house in his workshop. My father-in-law had been turning wood since he was a boy and he loves teaching people how to use a lathe. He taught me the basics of wood turning. With his instruction I finally figured out how to work with the wood, instead of just using it to make stuff, and from that an artist has developed.
