Juan was born in southern Indiana; from an early age he loved nature and the outdoors. Working with wood has always been a part of his life as he learned to appreciate all that is required to turn out a quality, beautiful final product. However, knots, burls and crotch wood are what he loves most.

Approximately five years ago, he watched a video on lathe-turning a bowl and it sparked his thoughts that this method is the perfect way to utilize the most beautiful parts of a tree most people don’t often use. With this, the long journey began with a small lathe. Much to his disappointment, this small lathe wouldn’t turn, so it was boxed up, returned and another purchased, as he was anxious to get started.

Juan is entirely self-taught, believing every piece of wood is unique and requires different solutions to highlight its beauty in final form. He begins each new project with an open mind of how the wood will organically form, he does not start with a preconceived notion of what the final product will be. He begins cutting and allows the wood to take its own form, highlighting knots, bark inclusions and other natural features. Almost all his projects have what some may consider “imperfections”, though he refers to them as nature’s beauty. Recently, he has added colored epoxy to his process, which has opened an entirely new realm.

Juan cuts and air-dries all the wood himself, only harvesting downed or dead trees, as he believes they deserve to live on in a repurposed manner for generations to enjoy. A particular favorite he enjoys working with is Spalted wood, as he appreciates the coloration and design it creates in the wood. He currently has over 30 species of wood and is consistently seeking new ones.