130 Fordway Extension, Derry, New Hampshire 03038, United States
(978) 618-7192 Studio
Fine Craft by Donna Zils Banfield
About Me
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My Background
My Background
My Background
It started with refinishing old furniture that I inherited from my grandfather. Despite working full-time until age 96 as a furniture finisher, he just slapped coats of paint on his own furniture. I could tell each decade by the color of the paint that I removed. One piece, an Armoire, had up to six coats of paint. I easily finessed
It started with refinishing old furniture that I inherited from my grandfather. Despite working full-time until age 96 as a furniture finisher, he just slapped coats of paint on his own furniture. I could tell each decade by the color of the paint that I removed. One piece, an Armoire, had up to six coats of paint. I easily finessed a heat gun to strip away each layer of paint. A lawyer by day, I found myself rushing home from the office just to spend a few hours each night to work with the wood. Once there, my pace slowed as I worked patiently and methodically.
My husband recalled my fascination with a woodturning demonstration at the Annual Fair of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen. He thought I might enjoy woodturning, and surprised me with my first lathe and turning tools in 2001.
Many people come to a crossroad at some point in their lives. This was mine and I made the leap. I closed my private law practice at the end of 2003 to turn full-time.
My creations today are a reflection of my life. I live a life less ordinary, as do the trees with which I began. Most of the wood that I harvest comes from trees that have fallen during storms or were subject to insect damage or urban development. I take what would have been the end of a majestic life in its natural state and give it new life – a life less ordinary.
My Medium
My Background
My Background
Almost everything I create starts with a block of wood on a lathe. Most of it is green, starting with logs. I use a sawmill to cut the logs into manageable sizes, lengths and weight. Once inside my studio, I use the lathe to create my form, or my wood canvas upon which I cut, carve, texture, pyro-engrave and paint. The final obj
Almost everything I create starts with a block of wood on a lathe. Most of it is green, starting with logs. I use a sawmill to cut the logs into manageable sizes, lengths and weight. Once inside my studio, I use the lathe to create my form, or my wood canvas upon which I cut, carve, texture, pyro-engrave and paint. The final object takes on a new identity. Without close observation, you might never know it was wood.