Tom LarsonTom Larson started woodworking in the shop on the farm where he grew up when he was about ten years old. As a young adult, his fascination with designing in wood attracted him to woodworking as a diversion from his work as a counselor, but it wasn’t long until he became a dedicated amateur. Drawn by an interest in original design, amateur woodworking led to demanding, high quality craft, which others began to refer to as art. He had become an artist more by default than by plan.For many years Tom displayed and sold his work at juried art and craft fairs where his work won awards for quality and design. His work is part of the North Dakota State Museum permanent collection and was selected for exhibit in the Washington office of senator Tom Daschle. He holds a design patent on one of his original designs, a device for displaying plants. Almost all of the wood Tom uses is from trees grown in southeastern South Dakota (walnut, elm, maple, birch, ash, apple, mulberry), and he has cut, sawn, and stacked the wood to dry naturally. In retirement, Tom is freed to devote considerable time to what he enjoys most: lathe-turning bowls, vases and containers. View Galleries « BACK |