Biography

As a kid I can remember taking apple boxes apart for the wood so I could make scooters or carts using roller skate wheels, most of which failed catastrophically.  That was the beginning of my journey with wood.  In high school I continued with wood shop and built a small sailboat as a home project.  I have built a variety of furniture projects,
but have focused on woodturning for the last few years.
 
I enjoy turning green wood and particularly wood from the trees found in the Santa Ynez Valley, where I have resided for the last 20 years.  It is interesting to see how green wood distorts as it dries.  The wood in many of my pieces is rescued from situations where it would otherwise be mulched or burned.

I have studied with Sören Berger, Linda Salter, Neil Scobie, Irene Grafert, and Rich Johnson, in addition to many hours of reading books and visiting websites on wood and woodturning.  I recently completed a week of study with Jamie Donaldson at the John C. Campbell Folk School.  In addition, I should acknowledge all of the critiques, tips, and advice I have received from the many woodturners I have encountered along the way, especially the World of Woodturners members.

I am an active member of the American Association of Woodturners, the Silicon Valley Woodturners in San Jose, and the Central Coast Woodturners in San Luis Obispo.

I have had my work shown in galleries here in the Santa Ynez Valley.  I had one of my pieces juried into the 2006 California Contours show. I have demonstrated at the Danish Days festival in Solvang, the Home & Garden Shows in the Bay Area, along with setting up a booth in several of our local street fairs.

I hope you enjoy my turned pieces as much as I have enjoyed making them.  This has been a great adventure and I really enjoy “woodturning for the fun of it!”   Mikey

Copyright © 2007-2009, Mike Magrill
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