James Pugh

Artist Statement

My work is rooted in a lifelong relationship with wood. I began at age seven, learning alongside my father, a contractor who built custom post-and-beam cedar homes. Over the years, I worked as a framing and finish carpenter, cabinetmaker, furniture maker, and architectural woodturner, each role deepening my respect for the material. Now retired, I focus on turning bowls—something I long wanted to pursue. Each piece begins as an unassuming block of wood, often little more than firewood. What inspires me is the element of discovery: the grain, color, and character reveal themselves only as the piece takes shape on the lathe. No two are alike, and each bowl becomes a balance between craftsmanship and the natural story within the wood, transforming the ordinary into something both functional and uniquely expressive.