a green woodturner
I think it must be immensely gratifying to start off in life with a creative passion you wish to pursue and continue to develop that passion for your entire working life. That’s what Anthony effectively managed to do and here’s a little insight as to how that all came about.
Looking back to those early school years when Anthony was considering what the future might hold for him, the last thing in mind was to follow on in the family business, Undertaking. Anthony told me “ I certainly did not have any intention of becoming an Undertaker ” but neither did he see his future in Banking as that was the first job he secured once he’d left school. You might say that looking back on it, the Banking job then was somewhat of a stop gap as his real passion was for woodturning something he discovered a few years earlier.
The Bank work for Anthony became rather mundane over the next few years so he looked towards developing his woodturning skills further. That came about by getting the opportunity to enrol on a week-long residential woodworking course with a well known master of the arts. Anthony returned to a series of further courses which were on offer with the aim in mind to build up his woodturning experience, with the final outcome being, leaving his secure job at the Bank. Now he was on his own.
“I certainly did not have any intention of becoming an Undertaker”
Like most of us, the worrying aspect of going it alone, being self employed and not having a secure income can be somewhat of a burden. Still, Anthony stuck at it through tough times, with the support of his family and today, 40 years on, he’s still at it.
I often visualise in the back of my mind as to what kind of studio/workshop us creatives work in prior to my visits and Anthonys was certainly not a disappointment to me. A lovely Cornish period looking workshop with original beams, wood shavings everywhere and old school tools and machinery littered his space. 22 years of his work had evolved in his workshop. Beautiful old school belt driven lathes that simply don’t exists anymore are Anthony’s main workhorses. There’s a sign on the split stable door that reads “W. J Bryant & son - Builders & Funeral Directors” A reminder of his families past.
Anthony’s choices on the green wood front are ash, oak, elm, sycamore, yew and occasionally walnut & holly. His preference is towards oak and ash. He told me “ ash often has a rippled or figured grain which is visually beautiful and oak when it is turned very thin will, as it dries, warp and twist into unique abstract shapes”.
What I saw the day I documented Anthony was a very skilled craftsman at work. The power of the lathe turning, the wood rotating at speed, him focusing as he began to visualise what was to become of that block of wood he was working with.
Thank you for you time and patience Anthony. An enjoyable visit and chat. RD
