Enumclaw, Washington
Working with wood has been a source of peaceful intrigue since Eric Lofstrom’s childhood. When creating, Eric aims to practice “presence,” or mindfulness, so he can stay safe and make the most of his time creatively. He strives to balance the seemingly opposite goals of absolute physical control and creative surrender. Eric intentionally zooms in on the finest material details, while also acknowledging how various elements play to a piece’s artistic message. Approaching studio time in this way may not be the most productive in terms of volume, but it allows Eric to explore and fully understand things in a more satisfying way.
As an artist, Eric aims to create clean-lined forms with minimal distraction. Eric uses grain, color, and texture to invite an intimate conversation with his work. He enjoys working within self-prescribed constraints, focusing his exploration to develop philosophical concepts into series. Currently, Eric’s work represents curiosities relating to water, energy, and the essence of human-being.
Elementary Physical Education Teacher by day and Woodturner by night, Eric is a dynamic and passionate teacher. His time away from school is filled with woodturning instruction at clubs and symposiums throughout the United States and Canada. Eric’s educational background in Athletic Medicine, Biomechanics and Sports Pedagogy shines through in his teaching of how body movement influences every aspect of woodturning. Simplifying the complex skill of tool control into basic building blocks is Eric’s favorite way to empower others with increased depth of understanding and confidence. Eric’s woodturning instruction thoughtfully balances the technical teaching of woodturning skills with artistic embellishments to inspire creative expression. A teacher and coach to his core, Eric’s mission is to share an exuberance for exploration, connect with authenticity and presence, and to engage in meaningful work with the understanding and excitement that accompanies a growth-mindset.
Eric is well known as a premier teacher of woodturning skills and creator of wood art. His demonstrations and hands-on classes are highly acclaimed by AAW clubs, woodworking stores and symposiums; Creativity in Woodturning Symposium in Washington State (2008, 2009), Oregon Woodturning Symposium (2015, 2019), Utah Woodturning Symposium (2015), Mid-Atlantic Woodturning Symposium (2016), Rocky Mountain Symposium (2017), Southwest Area Turners Symposium (2017), AAW National Symposium (2018), Tennessee Association of Woodturners Symposium (2020), Turn-On! Chicago Symposium (2020, postponed to 2022), Alaska Woodturners Association Wood Turning Symposium (2021).
For more information visit Eric’s website here: ericlofstrom.com