It was the summer of 1997, and I was living in San Francisco, Calif. I had recently completed my undergraduate degree in Environmental Design at UC Davis, where I was introduced to woodworking and furniture design. I was perusing interior design and architecture magazines in a bookstore and out of the corner of my eye I spotted a gray-haired man on the cover of a magazine, holding a small hammer. I grabbed the magazine, took a sip of my latte, and began flipping the pages. As someone who was already interested in woodworking, I’d heard of this man, James Krenov, and the small woodworking school that he started on the North Coast of California. I read Jim’s article, “Making Music with a Plane,” struggling to understand how a woodworking tool could “sing.” In the article that followed, David Welter explained in detail how to make those instruments. I’ll admit that I was confused, but more importantly, I was intrigued.
At the time I had no idea how much influence those articles would have on my life. While my friends in the Bay Area continued to pursue careers in finance and politics, I applied to what is now known as The Krenov School (formerly the College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program). And just like that, the trajectory of my life changed. I spent the following two years in Fort Bragg, Calif., immersed in the practice of woodworking with James Krenov and his crew.
Fast forward 20 years and I am now the lead instructor of the Cabinet and Furniture Technology Program at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., and I’ve written my own articles in Fine Woodworking. I still frequently research processes and techniques in Fine Woodworking. I regularly reference more articles than I could possibly list here, but what I find especially useful in my teaching practice are articles on drawing and design. Again and again I recommend the same three articles to my students: “A Guide to Good Design” by Graham Blackburn, “Creating Working Drawings” by Jim Tolpin, and “The Right Way to Use Contrast” by Garrett Hack. I’ve taught design for years, and more often than not, I find that what students really want is concrete answers to abstract ideas, and these articles deliver.
Through each stage of my career, from student to maker to teacher, this magazine has been an invaluable resource. Thank you Fine Woodworking!
Jennifer Anderson
Making Music with a PlaneA celebrated craftsman explains his devotion to an indispensable cabinetmaking tool James Krenov |
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Wooden PlanesA small investment in time and materials yields a tool that performs beautifully David Welter |
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Creating Working DrawingsHow to take a design idea from rough sketch to final plans Jim Tolpin |
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A Guide to Good DesignPleasing proportions borrowed from nature Graham Blackburn |
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The Right Way to Use ContrastMake your furniture stand out by combining different grain, figure, and colors. Just don’t overdo it Garrett Hack |
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