WOOD

#06-054-5
Koa wood lidded box
8"w x 7"h

#06-070-21
Koa wood turned & carved vessel
13"w x7"h

Francisco Clemente was born in Huelva, Spain in July 1945. His admiration for wood began at his godfather furniture shop where as a young man used to frequent regularly involving himself in small projects of his own creation. His godfather made him an apprentice of furniture making.

He learned a lot about wood, learning how to sharpen tools manually using a water stone, how to bend wood to shape various parts of rocking chairs, and how to carve legs for tables and chairs among other things. He enjoyed the smell of the freshly cut wood of Spanish cedars and cypress.

In 1980, Francisco visited Hawaii and found a home away from home. He continued his living as a furniture maker and licensed remodeling contractor. In an attempt to create bedposts for a special hand-made bed, he purchased a wood turning lathe and began to experiment with different techniques for wood turning.

With strong determination to further express himself with art, to define his artistic vision, and along with guidance from fellow artist Ron Kent, Francisco has become an accomplished woodturning artist who has won awards and presents his work in many local and national juried exhibitions.