Jim Keller
Richmond, TX

About the Artist

Through my life long love of wood I have evolved from a carpenter, to a woodworker, to a wood turner finally to a sculpture. I am always looking for unique pieces of wood that will allow me to develop an interesting design for the sculpture.   

I was introduced to wood turning in 1991, and found the concept of creating objects with fair curves and flowing lines a pleasant diversion from my everyday engineering carrier. My goal as an artist is to combine the circular form, fair curves and drama with the character and natural beauty of a piece of wood to create a sculpture highlighting natural edges and negative space to create an individual unique sculpture. 

Wood is a very tactile medium.  It has been with great joy when I have watched somebody caress a piece of my sculpture. This expression of connection between my art and the admiring public is a source of great personal joy for me. After seeing the work of Jesus Moroles a stone sculpture I was inspired to investigate the wheel form.  My first wheel includes a scorched sphere representing a meteorite that penetrated the center of the form.  That piece I entitled “Evolution of the Wheel”.  Little did I know at the time that this would be the start of a series in which I have explored the wheel form. 

Working on a lathe means you are working with the circular shape.  I combine my experience in multi axis turning with the wheel form, which gives me the opportunity to create converging plains, variable arcs and multiple facets.  As I experiment with the wheel form. I am trying to create a fluid form, with implied motion combining the pure circular form with interesting and diverging plains and varying arches. 

I am looking forward to a long journey rolling down the road pursing the full circle of opportunities the wheel form presents to me. 
 

Back to Artists