Donna Banfield

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.

Trent Bosch

Trent started woodturning in late 80s and early 90s. Exploring all types of woodturning, he was fascinated by the processes and what could be made on the lathe. The speed at which products could be made was an immediate attraction for him. It wasn’t as if you had to spend months and months building a cabinet, or desk, etc. While pursuing his ideas in turning he was always looking to make the process faster, more efficient, better, modifying the tools he had to actually work the way he wanted them to. Along the way he came up with ideas for completely different designs purchasing a small metal lathe, and metalworking mill allowed him to start turning his ideas into reality. Most of the products he was working on at the time had to do with hollowing, and carving on his turnings. The total access hollowing tools began with only the 3/4″ size and were forged rather than machined as they are today. The theme of making the process, faster, more efficient and better has been echoed in every product he has designed from simple hollowing tools to the more complex Stabilizers and Visualizer. He really enjoys helping other turners find the satisfaction and enjoyment that comes from the woodturning process.

Today, the manufacturing facility for Trent Bosch Tools is located in Fort Collins, Colorado instead of the small lathe and mill that he began with there are now several large CNC machines, manufacturing to tight tolerances the tools that Trent designed. An effort has been made to make everything possible in house. Using some of the latest technologies such as laser engraving and 3D printing has allowed us to keep most every part of the process in house. We are a small business that focuses on quality, innovative products for woodturners.

Matt Monaco

Laurent Niclot

Hi my name is Laurent Niclot, I am originally from Toulon in the south of France, but am currently living and working in Fort Collins, Colorado USA. I have always loved wood, so it was only natural for me to study woodworking, woodcarving, cabinet making, furniture making, and design. I discovered woodturning from Jean-François Escoulen, and I knew it was how I wanted to make a living. So, in 2015, at age 20, I took the six-month woodturning class at the Escoulen School in Aiguines, France, with Jean-François and Yann Marot. Then, the school hired me as an assistant and translator for 3 years, gave me a studio and a lathe to practice my passion, and the possibility to meet many other artists and woodturners who now inspire my work. I have had the opportunity to share my passion and teach woodturning to those in France, Belgium, Canada and all over the United States. I enjoy demonstrating (both remote and in-person), teaching short one-day through week long classes, and continuing to explore my own artistic practice. My current work ranges from traditional woodturning to woodburning, carving, multi-axis, coloring and texturing. 

My work 

My work is experimental: I like to play with the wood and try new textures and colors, new tools, and new techniques. I also enjoy giving a new life to a piece of wood. My job as an assistant gave me the opportunity to find and use interesting wood that may have too many cracks and knots for the students. I carve with rotary tools and gouges to create new shapes and textures. My aim is to make pieces that are sculptural, decorative, and designed with a strong message or a story to tell. I also enjoy collaborating with other artists, creating pieces with a strong story and with materials or techniques that I wouldn’t be able to make on my own. It allows me to see my work with a different eye and evolve, learn and share an experience with that person.