Otto Folkerts

Around 500 B.C., Pythagoras proposed that the earth was round and turned on an axis, and not flat as was commonly thought at the time. Something says this ancient Greek would have liked Indy-based woodworker Otto Folkerts, who said, “Once I started woodturning I fell in love with round pieces and objects. I stopped doing ‘flat work’. Turning is addictive and the opportunities are unlimited. In my 17 years of turning, I have made hundreds of round objects on the lathe, and none are identical.”

When using a lathe, wood spins toward the operator, who shapes it with tools. Spindle turning, with grain parallel to the lathe bed, makes items like chair legs and rolling pins. Side or face grain turning, with grain perpendicular, produces bowls and platters. In face grain turning, the tool alternates between end grain and side grain with each revolution, posing technical challenges that require sharp tools and practice.

Otto notes that the interplay of end and side grain highlights the wood’s natural character. With experience, he has developed the skills to design balanced, attractive pieces that showcase striking colors and grain patterns. Otto says, “Buyers are often fascinated with the colors and grain patterns of my bowls and platters.”

Indiana has an abundance of excellent hardwood species Otto uses as raw material for more than 90 percent of his work, making him a true Indiana Artisan. He says, “It is important to me to be in an environment where the raw material is local. Wood from many domestic species is readily available and cheap. I particularly like black walnut, ash, and cherry, but I do not pass up any of the other species.”

Although bowls and platters will continue to be the focus of Otto’s woodturning, he is also adopting other woodturning approaches. He is particularly interested in developing the artistic side of wood turning. Otto says, “I have started to explore multi-axis spindle turning and segmented woodturning as ways to push my creativity and artistic skills.”

“I have worked hard to raise the quality and productivity of my turning to the standards I envisioned were required of Indiana Artisan,” he said. “As I developed my skills, I wanted to share my work with others, whether through commissioned pieces or individual sales. Indiana Artisan will be instrumental in helping me set up myself and my business. I have wanted to be part of Indiana Artisan for years and, now that I am, I believe it will challenge me to continue to grow, improve and develop.”