Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, the woodturner behind the studio in Saluda, North Carolina, was introduced to woodworking through his father’s hobby. His interest in the craft began at a young age, as he experimented with his father’s lathe, but it wasn’t until attending a two-week woodturning class at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in 1996 that he truly became passionate about the turning process.

Mark creates functional and decorative pieces from locally sourced hardwoods, including salad bowls and totemic sculptures. His work often features simple forms, which serve as a canvas for intricate carvings and textures like engraving, wire-brushing, and branding. He uses milk paint to highlight these details and create contrast with the wood’s natural tones.

For his salad bowls, he uses a food-safe finish made from a custom blend of walnut oil and beeswax. The process begins with whole logs, which are slabbed with a chainsaw, shaped on a bandsaw, and rough-turned on a lathe. After being kiln-dried for a couple of months, the bowls are remounted for final turning and sanding.

This meticulous process results in functional, yet artistic pieces that showcase both the beauty of the wood and the user's craftsmanship.

After moving to Saluda in 2000, he opened his own studio, where he has been able to fully dedicate himself to woodworking. In addition to creating his own work, he travels around the country, teaching and demonstrating woodturning for various clubs and craft schools.