John Shrader felt a need to create with his hands beginning when he was a young child. Designing model airplanes, furniture and jewelry were some of the things he practiced his talent with in his younger years.
In 1998 he retired from a career at Boeing where he first worked as an engineer and later as a manager overseeing explosives, lasers, electrical guns and advanced inspection techniques. Near the end of this time he began woodturning and after making bowls for friends and family for about 6 years, John began showing work at Northwest Fine Woodworking. In 2008 his lathe turned pierced vessel “Ocean Home” won both First Place Jury and the People’s Choice Award in the Annual Box & Container Competition.
John Shrader’s skill and ingenuity result in beautiful, well crafted segmented bowls that require extreme precision of assembly. He implores a unique approach to his segmented turnings that not only wastes less material but naturally allows the grain pattern inherent in the wood to resonate throughout the design.
“I try to convey a feeling of grace and flow with my work. I love the richness of wood grain and delight in displaying it so others can also appreciate its beauty. While I find perfection admirable, for me it is the siren song leading to being safe, so I strive most of all for excellence. I hope the joy I feel working in my shop is communicated to those who acquire my work, and that they share in this joy.”
John will be presenting a body of new designs as part of Northwest Fine Woodworking’s 30th Anniversary events during the Against the Grain show running May 27th- July 9th 2010.
If you are interested in purchasing John's work or would like to see what turnings we have available, please contact us using our form or call (206) 625-0542.
101 South Jackson St.
