130 Fordway Extension, Derry, New Hampshire 03038, United States

(978) 618-7192 Studio

(978) 618-7192 Studio

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    • Home
    • Contact
    • The Soul Series
    • Illusions in Wood
    • New Work
    • Calendar of Events
    • Private Instruction
    • Online Demonstrations
    • Wood Ffolkkes
  • Home
  • Contact
  • The Soul Series
  • Illusions in Wood
  • New Work
  • Calendar of Events
  • Private Instruction
  • Online Demonstrations
  • Wood Ffolkkes

Live A Life Less Ordinary

Live A Life Less OrdinaryLive A Life Less OrdinaryLive A Life Less Ordinary

Fine Craft by Donna Zils Banfield

Fine Craft by Donna Zils BanfieldFine Craft by Donna Zils Banfield

About Me

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.

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