Patrick McDaniel, Owner, Master Woodturner
Creating bowls and vessels is a rewarding and time-consuming process. All the work involved from start to finish is performed by me. The pieces begin from found trees felled by storms, construction sites, and road clearing. The work is from northern hardwoods such as cherry, ash, maple and walnut. All pieces are from one block of wood.
All of my turnings are twice turned. The first time, the piece is left thick to slowly dry for a time, then it is turned again, sanded and polished and a finish is added. With minimal care these bowls and vessels will last for generations!
My one of a kind pieces reflect a blending of nearly fifty years of woodworking skill in various endeavors such as furniture, sculpture, and architecture. Presently my focus is on the challenging world of woodturning.
There has been a strong bond between wood and myself. Trees and all the enrichment in our lives they provide are so important to me. I try to give to such a strong medium as wood the respect it deserves. In my work, whether in a jagged bark edge bowl, a vertical form, or a simply designed functional bowl, I hope this respect is evident.
With this expressive art form I hope that I may find a way to relate to others and have them enjoy the simplicity of line and the solid beauty of wood.
Samuel McDaniel, Owner, Designer, Maker
I grew up in Niles, a small town in Southwest Michigan. My Mother is a science teacher and my Father is an artist. They have both molded me to become the person that I am today. My parents are very well educated in math and science. My Mother has sculpted me into a great science admirer; through her, I became interested in science and was frequently a part of events, such as Science Olympiad and Ecology Club. My Father has always been a fantastic help with many school subjects, ranging from math, to art, to history. He has also been a great encouragement throughout my life.
Growing up, I wanted to become a pediatrician to help sick kids. Throughout high school, that slowly developed into an interest in medical devices and tools. I decided to apply for a Biomedical Engineering degree at Boston University. I was accepted with a renewable $35k scholarship. However, about two and a half years into the program, I realized the degree wasn't what I really wanted to do with my life. It was more geared towards research in the medical field and medicine, but not product design. I decided to transfer to Western Michigan University, in 2012, claiming an Engineering Design major. This major has evolved my interests from medical instruments alone into a more broad product design mindset. It has also made me excited about my future career.
At Western, I have received the Outstanding Student Award in Engineering Design Technology. Recently, I obtained a Master’s of Science in Manufacturing Engineering. Eventually I hope this can evolve into a larger operation with help from my studies and the knowledge of my father. My father has been a woodworker and self-taught artist his whole life. He has taught me many useful skills over the years, as we took many trips to art shows around the country. I have created countless works of art, thanks to him.
