Phil Norton

Phil Norton

I grew up on a farm in West Texas where we grew cotton and wheat and raised cattle. It was a simple but tough life and I loved it. I particularly loved being outdoors and watching nature. I did not understand much of what I saw but that did not stop me from enjoying it. In college at Texas Tech University I majored in Wildlife Management, which sounded like a great way to make a career out of being outdoors. After graduation I was lucky to get a job with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in the Division of Wildlife Refuges. That's what I did for 36 years; worked on and for National Wildlife Refuges. It was a good career and I had great fun for the most part. Later in my career as I climbed the ladder of success and my grade level increased and the bureaucracy and paperwork increased, the "fun" aspect decreased, so I retired. I began to look for activities to participate in for personal fulfillment.

I had always liked working with wood, making bookshelves, boxes and chests, which was all very enjoyable. But then I discovered woodturning. I love it and it has become my passion.

Simply stated, my goal is to achieve the perfect form, the purest possible curves as expressed in simple, uncluttered shapes that expose the beauty of the wood to the fullest. I really love making something beautiful out of something that most people would consider ordinary and would perhaps throw away or burn.