Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Hornung.
Hi Jeff, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always been a local creative…the family ceramics business as well as the family flower shop. In 2011 I suffered a minor head injury in a car accident followed by what they called “post concussion syndrome”. Basically it was like a feedback loop in my brain which made everything uncomfortable. It took some time but we figured out that craft as therapy was very helpful and I eventually ended up at the John C Campbell Folk School, in North Carolina, taking a week long beginners woodturning class. Woodturning allowed me to focus on something creative while my brain rewired itself as needed. I started out as a hobby woodturner, progressed to making and selling items at local craft fairs, launched a woodturning supply business, started demonstrating at club meetings and regional symposiums too. In 2015 I started teaching woodturning at The Craft Alliance and have progressed to doing a number of woodturning classes as well as a beginners cutting board class. I am a regular instructor at the John C Campbell Folk School and currently teach 3 classes there each year. I am an award winning juried artist, showing at a number of art and craft fairs around the country and currently working on new ideas for shows in 2026. I’m also the very first, and currently only, American to be accepted onto the rolls of the Register of Professional Turners. This is a British organization the promotes quality and excellence in woodturning. Very prestigious group and I’m highly honored to be a member. I am considered to be an industry expert and have designed a series of woodturning accessories for one of the major turning manufacturers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth road? Ahahahahhaa….koff…wheeze…ahahahahhahaaaaa….
so, no.
My head injury was no joke and even though “healed” it still provides me with reminders in the form of migraines. Starting a new career path in a creative direction, solo, has been a challenge as well. St. Louis is a wonderful art city but woodturning is often seen as “something their grandfather used to do” There are often times when people simply don’t understand what to do with my work, because it’s wood they want each piece to have an actual function…not just being a work of art. Trying to bridge that gap of a preconceived notion regarding woodturning as functional craft “only” instead of also being decorative work or even high art has been an interesting challenge. And the final reality is no one needs my work. We are currently in a time where folks are afraid to spend their money, disposable or otherwise, on items like art or high craft. I get it, I’m nervous too, but this is what I do full time and how I’m supposed to pay my bills.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a woodturner, an artist, a creative soul and (surprisingly) a teacher! Teaching is not something I would have ever picked as part of my life but I find it to be highly satisfying. I think it’s mostly due to woodturning being something I’m very passionate about, and I’ve had several very good teachers on my own journey (hey, KDH, I’m looking at you!). I love being able to share something I care about with others who are open to what I have to offer.
As an artist I embrace color and texture as well as form, function and figure. Wood is my canvas, I can do whatever I want…most of the time. Every piece brings surprises, though not all surprises are welcome. I get to play and explore on a daily basis and that makes what I do incredibly fun.
I think I’m most proud of becoming a member of the Register of Professional Turners as that is truly a high honor.
What sets me apart from most is my willingness to always be open to learn. I’ll never learn everything and that is actually pretty cool. There will always be something new to learn, a tool, technique or talent. It keeps me humble but also hungry for more. Be it design and proportion or understanding tool steel better, more knowledge is always better. I embrace that.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
The Art of Turned Bowls, by Richard Raffan. His style of work and the way it’s presented in this book allowed me to really start understanding design and proportion.
The American Association of Woodturners (AAW). This organization provides a number of benefits to woodturners including, but not limited to, a excellent magazine, several online educational resources, local/regional woodturning clubs and an outstanding online forum.
The Best of Missouri Hands: This is a State wide artist association that provides support for Missouri artists in a number of ways.
Quite honestly, most of my reading is pure entertainment. Love me some space operas! Lol.
Pricing:
- Private woodturning lessons start at $20 per hour
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jeffhornung.com and www.thewalnutlog.com
- Instagram: @thewalnutlogstudio @jeffreyhornung
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeff.hornung.1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheWalnutLog
