You have entered the home page of Katrok Woodworks. Fine woodwork created by John G. Perrella.
At KatroK Woodworks I lathe turn hardwood bowls made entirely from eastern hardwood trees that grow right here in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. Multiple species of wood are assembled to produce unique color, pattern, texture and shape combinations. No two pieces are alike. The process I utilize produces endless variety. From tree to bowl, the process starts with the harvesting of a tree and getting it to the sawmill. There it is sawn into boards with the goal of producing quality boards and at the same time looking for interesting features in the log that may produce unusual grain patterns. The boards are then stacked inside a drying shed with spacers and separation between the individual pieces. When dry I transfer selected wood to my shop where it is cut, joined and planed in preparation for inclusion in a new bowl. Selecting the various elements that will be made into a bowl blank is an important part of the process. Past experience, intuition and the willingness to experiment are essential in assembling the components that produce a ready to be turned blank with real potential. I never start with a fixed idea of what the bowl will be. As I turn the piece I look for features that will suggest the best shape. It is a creative process that can produce surprising results, stunning work that is both beautiful and functional. A durable finish is applied that is safe to be in contact with food. Most pieces are functional and can be used on an everyday basis. They also look damn good as objects of artistic merit, displayed anywhere in the home. I have turned over one thousand pieces. They are owned by people from one end of the country to the other and as far away as New Zealand and Iceland. Most work is sold from my studio. It is best to visit by appointment as I might be on a very long bicycle ride or other such nonsense. A snail mailed, current inventory list with photos and prices can be sent upon request. I will carefully package and insure shipping within the continental US. A final note about the wood; eastern United States hardwood forests produce some of the finest material on the planet. It is a renewable resource of great value. With proper care and management these forests can continue to provide clean water, wildlife habitat, sustainable wood yield, recreation opportunities, and in doing so the beauty of these great Catskill Mountain will be preserved for future generations.
Hand turned wooden bowls and custom designed furniture of eastern hardwood.
