Forty
years ago, halfway around the world, Brenda Behrens had a rather auspicious start
to her woodworking career.
While
her then-husband was stationed at the U.S. Naval Air Facility in Atsugi, Japan,
Behrens spent several days each week taking woodworking classes with a handful
of other Navy wives. For almost three years, Behrens learned at the hands of master
Japanese woodcarver Genji Ishihara.
"I
learned how to use the traditional Japanese tools for woodcarving and learned
the Kamakura style of carving," Brenda said. "It was a long family tradition
in Genji Ishihara's family to embellish the wood for the temples in Japan.
He sort of broke away from the family tradition and taught classes at the US naval
air station. His family wasn't happy with him, teaching the Kamakura style
to these American ladies.
Collared Vessel III
Catalpa Wood
Size: 6 1/2 in. H. X 3 7/8 in. D.
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"He
had such a gentle personality. He was quite proud of all of his students."
Since
then, Behrens has obviously come a long way in the world of woodcarving and woodturning.
Her artistic-form turned and carved pieces have drawn national acclaim and honors
and is highly regarded by collectors.
"She
has pieces in some of the best collections in the country," said Nordy Rockler,
the founder of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware who has collected a number of
Behren's turned pieces. "I have a goblet of hers made out of pink ivory
wood that has been sculpted and textured. It's one of my nicest pieces."
A few
years ago, during the Clinton administration, Brenda was one of the artists chosen
to provide a decoration for the White House Christmas tree. "I turned and
carved an angel out of Indian boxwood, and embellished it with gold leaf and ostrich
feathers," Brenda said. "Mrs. Clinton sent me a thank-you letter for
the contribution to the Christmas tree, and a photo of the tree. I'm not
quite sure how they selected me for the invitation, but I was very happy to respond."
Dancing Leaves
Oregon Striped Myrtle
Size: 8 in. D. X 3 in. H.
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This
year, a few pieces of Brenda's work were added to the permanent collection
of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery. "That was
one of my long-term goals, to have a piece in the permanent Smithsonian collection,"
Brenda said. She also was an exhibiting artist at the International Exposition
of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) in New York this past spring.
Brenda,
who has four adult daughters and 11 grandchildren, was exposed to woodworking
at an early age. Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father were all woodworkers,
and she used to play in her grandfather's woodworking shop when she was a
child growing up in central Kansas. "So I got sawdust in my lungs when I
was very young," she said, laughing. Her brother, Roger Irwin, also is a
woodworker; he builds fine furniture in Las Vegas.
Today,
Brenda, 62, lives with her husband Richard on a ranch in Chino Valley, Arizona,
where they raise thoroughbred horses (two of their horses race at Turf Paradise
in Phoenix). They moved there four and a half years ago from California "because
we were looking for some acreage so we could raise a couple horses," Brenda
said. "With developing the land and making a place for ourselves, and woodworking
and raising horses, it's been a busy time."
Wrapped in Leaves III
Myrtle Burl
Size: 8 1/16 in. H. X 5 in. D.
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The main focus of
Brenda's work is the "turned vessel and embellishing the surface with
the carved leaf form," she said. "That's basically what I'm
all about. They are artistic form. They are non-functional as far as a domestic
concern. I consider them art for the connoisseur who collects wood turned art
pieces."
In
her 1,000-square-foot shop, "I have my lathe and my band saw and my carving
bench and my special lighting for carving," she said. "That's where
I spend my hours. Working at my carving bench, those are my happiest hours; the
peacefulness, the creativeness. I love to hear the stroke of the tool through
the wood. It's a very pleasant feeling, as well as sound. It's just
relaxing."
Wrapped in Leaves III
Detail View
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Upon
moving to Arizona, Brenda discovered there were special challenges presented by
woodworking in the desert. "I found out I couldn't keep wet wood in
my studio," she said. "It would just dry out. There's just no humidity
here, and moisture in the wood is drawn out quickly. I had to find another way
to stabilize my wood. To keep Arizona from drying it out, I freeze my wood in
the freezer; that retains the moisture. When I'm ready to carve a new piece
I have a fresh piece of wood."
Brenda's
favorite wood to work with is myrtle wood because "it's stable and holds
the pattern and detail very well," she said. "And it has a lot of color
and is very beautiful. Carob wood is another one of my favorites."
Triple Ripple II
Oregon figured Myrtle Wood
Size: 7 1/4 in. H. X 4 in.
D.
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Typically,
Brenda turns the wood form "when it's wet on the lathe," she said.
She then draws the design onto the surface and carves the piece. "I use traditional
wood carving tools, and I leave all the tool textures on the wood," she said.
"I carve it in such a manner that I don't have to sand it. It's
a surface directly from the tool, but it's smooth enough. It's like
velvet." She then uses Danish oil to oil the piece and paste wax for the
final finish.
"There's
no two designs the same, although I do have a series on the same theme, like dancing
leaves," Brenda said.
She
pays particular attention to the vessel base. "I focus on the foot because
I want the vessel to be lifted," she said. "I will do a leaf foot or
loop foot to lift the vessel off the surface it is sitting on. It adds a very
interesting feature. When a person picks up the piece and turns it over, a person
isn't expecting the base to be as embellished as I carve."
The
Japanese influence on Brenda's work is also evident, although not always
intended. "I have never really tried to direct my work at that training;
however, I have been told by many who have viewed my body of work that it very
distinctly exhibits a Japanese influence," she said.
Lace and Swirls
Oregon Myrtle Crotch Wood
Size: 8 1/4 in. D. X 2 7/8 in.
H.
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"A
lot of turners have a style, and you can always pick out their style," said
Nordy Rockler. "If I see their piece I don't even need to know their
name. Her pieces are unique and different. She's a very talented woman. Besides
being a woodturner, she's done painting and sculpture and embroidery."
Regarding
her woodworking career, Brenda says, "There are many, many people who will
open a door for you. When the opportunity is there, just be sure and take advantage
of the opportunity."
To
see more of Brenda's work visit her gallery
page.
This article originally appeared in the Woodworker's Journal eZine.
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Copyright; 2010 Woodworker's Journal
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