ABOUT
Tom Schield’s woodturning creations show his respect for and love of nature’s breathtaking beauty. He preserves the wood’s unique character and personal story in each piece. Skillful turning on his lathe reveals its periods of hardship, stress, healing, and flourishing growth.
Tom’s interest lies in understanding the personality of a particular wood and letting it tell its own story. Trees narrate the history of their environments, and Tom expertly teases out their secrets.
Tom’s interest in woodworking was first sparked in 1974 while building log cabins in Alaska. Deeply inspired by the inherent beauty of natural wood, he learned how to work with many different types. He has spent decades honing his craft. In 2001, Tom and his wife, Nancy, built their idyllic log home in the Colorado Rockies’ foothills with their two sons’ help. Their home reflects an awe for God’s hand in creating the natural world and his passion for all things wood.
The Bear Valley Trading workshop exudes the sweet scent of wood sourced from the Rocky Mountains, the Southwest and the Midwest. A cornucopia of tools, materials and ongoing projects fills the space.
Conscious of the environment, Tom sources his wood from fallen winter kill trees discovered on camping trips, unused cleared trees from construction sites, those acquired as the result of forest fires, trees destined for the burn pile inside landfills, and those cut for wildfire protection. He often drives across several states to harvest the wood, transform it, giving it a new life in his workshop.
Tom enjoys sharing his creations with friends, family, and all who connect with the soul of the wood. Frequently, he invites people excited by woodturning into his workshop to collaborate on an idea or a custom piece.
Over many decades, Tom has made countless woodworking artworks as gifts for special occasions -- birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Sharing his work with those who respond to a unique piece prompts an unparalleled emotional connection.
Tom’s reputation as a woodworker ever widens. Recently, a Colorado family commissioned him to turn fifty-five bowls and several Weed Pots using hardwood from their farm. These trees were destined for removal for a highway project and slated for a landfill. Instead, Tom’s wood-turned artworks will embody the family farm’s legacy for generations.
Tom has been mentored by Stuart Batty, a world-renowned wood turner and developer. Stuart has visited Tom’s Colorado workshop several times for independent study providing invaluable assistance in developing his wood turning expertise. Stuart's push cut technique, 40/40 grind and his line of tools has been of great help in Tom's turning production. Additionally, Tom has studied with Stuart in group settings.
Upon completion of their log home, Tom and Nancy took a log furniture-making class after which they designed and made several pieces of the furniture in their home, such as tables, lamps, chairs, and more. With Nancy’s added innovative ideas, Tom has a never-ending source for projects that keep him at his lathe, turning rescued trees into artworks.
Tom has many collectors across the USA. Click here to see Tom's collectors Gallery.
