Meet John Kenneth King | Wood Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Kenneth King and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John Kenneth, how do you define success?
Success in my woodturning comes from personal satisfaction with a completed project. My goal for each turning is to leave it better than when I started. Each piece of wood brings its own limitations, so finding the internal beauty and bringing it to light so others can enjoy it is a success.

Selling my pieces brings me joy because I know their new owners find beauty and functionality (in most). Knowing that I have taken what many would think of as a piece of fire wood and turning a beautiful bowl or vase is an incredible “upcycle.” The tree provided oxygen, shade and beauty for its life and now part of it is able to serve other beneficial purposes for this new life.

For more than forty years of ministry, my work was always in process and never really completed. Wood turning is different because I can complete a project (often in a day)! Discovering ways to improve my artistic efforts also brings me great joy and I count that learning as a mark of success, too!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My woodworking journey began more than fifty years ago during my sophomore year in high school. I was always shocked when the bell rang ending class, because I was lost in the creative challenges. While the school only offered two years of woodworking, I requested a third year. My teacher reminded me they only offered two credits. I offered to cut out all the pieces he cut for the first year students. “If you can get the principal and guidance counselor to agree, I will be good with it,” he replied.

Because of my initiative and the quality of my work he recommended me for a job at a local guitar company at the end of my senior year. Working there during summers, while attending college gave me extra experience and exposed me to much higher quality control.

For the last thirty years I have had a sidehustle doing contract work for Norris Hall, a local artist. The extra income from these efforts allowed me to buy quality equipment and tools.

Turning is a newer experience for me, though. A quality lathe is an expensive investment. As retirement from my ministry position approached I started exploring making a purchase. My dad’s death provided me the funding I needed.

Woodturning is a spiritual experience for me. I do it to honor God—he has hidden incredible beauty, diversity and strength into trees. I focus on turning one-of-a-kind pieces which show off the diverse colors in multiple species of wood which has been salvaged.

When I was focused on traditional woodworking, the raw materials were becoming increasingly expensive. While salvaged timber is relatively inexpensive, drying it in stable form requires expensive equipment, significant time and also a good deal of labor. Turning gives ways to overcome some of these challenges. With experience my speed increases and that makes it possible to produce unique pieces at an appropriate price point.

There are always stories attached to one-off pieces. I love telling those and find it special when I get to have a part in passing some of them along.

For example, a friend reached out about a year ago to say he had to take a tree down on his property because of running electricity to his AirBNB trailer hookup. He anticipated he would be selling that land soon and asked if I could turn a bowl from a piece of the wood. Since this was his first property and where his son was born, he wanted it as a memorial. I suggested he save a crotch section and bring it by my studio. I rough turned it and put it in a brown paper bag filled with shavings so it could dry and stabilize. Recently I finished it by turning it again, sanding and applying multiple coats of finish. He and his wife attach such deep appreciation to this bowl because of where it grew and how beautiful it is. Commissioned pieces protect wonderful memories!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of the nearby places people enjoy visiting is my hometown, Bell Buckle. It has numerous antique stores and interesting shops. The Bell Buckle Cafe has a good “meat & three” menu. Also, The Alley has authentic Texas Barbecue.

Here in Murfreesboro, where I live now, we could tour the Gallagher Guitar Company which is owned and operated by a college friend. They make some of the world’s finest handcrafted acoustic guitars. I worked for this company during summers while attending college. My love for fine wood products was deepened by those experiences. We could also tour the Stones River Civil War battlefield which is nearby. Murfreesboro has miles of trails for walking or biking along the banks of the Stones River. Of course we would need to visit the Artisan Market on Friday morning, where I will have a booth one day per month.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Multiple people have contributed to my success! My wife, Debra, is my biggest supporter. She loves accounting, so she keeps the books and does all the shipping of artistic pieces I create. Her encouragement means the world to me.

Two teachers, an employer and my dad impacted my business significantly. Mrs. Manley fired a love for crafting and creating. Mr. Eslick taught me woodworking and his emphasis on safety means I have all ten fingers after 50 years of using saws, planers and shapers. He recommended me for employment at the JW Gallagher Guitar Company. There Don Gallagher nurtured a love for high quality standards. My dad left me the money for the lathe I use to create wood art. He saved two of my pieces from high school and they remind me of my journey.

Website: https://www.renewturning.com

Instagram: renew.turning