Barbara Dill ~ Woodturner
Two Sisters Studio and Gallery
Rockville, Virginia, U.S.A.
www.barbaradill.com
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Barbara Dill ~ Woodturner |
In my youth, I was surrounded with music. My father was a talented trumpet player and my mother had a beautiful voice. I had an older sister, Charlotte, who was also musically talented. We sang four part harmony in the car whenever we were out. My sister and I attended music camps all over Middle Tennessee in the summers and we were both offered music scholarships for college. After two years of college, I decided to become a nurse. I graduated from University of Tennessee with a degree in nursing and went on to have a very exciting career in nursing. I discovered photography which I enjoy to this day. Ultimately I got a Masters in Psychiatric Nursing (1980) and moved from Boston to Richmond, Virginia with my partner in 1986.
| I discovered wood in the late 80’s while taking a woodcarving course in Richmond. I retired from a 21 year nursing career a few years later and in 1990, went to Arrowmont in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, where I took my first turning class. I have been enjoying my work with wood ever since. I had no art education and certainly no experience with wood because those classes were not offered to girls back in the 60’s. |
After attending conferences and workshops in the South East and turning full time, in the late 90's I started teaching at Woodcraft retail store in Richmond, Virginia for a year before teaching at the Visual Arts Center in Richmond (previously known as the Hand Workshop) where I still teach. I am a member of the Artisans Center of Virginia, a nonprofit advocacy organization with a number of educational programs.
I spend as much time as possible working in my studio, gardening, and walking my two dogs. Currently, I am fascinated with multi-axis turning. I present demonstrations that are an adventure into the various ways to think about multi-axis spindle work and the tools and techniques that make it work. I am also known locally for my beautiful salad bowls and other objects made from the green woods that surround me.
I encourage you to view my turnings and invite you to contact me if you wish to see more of my work.
