Feature Mondays - In the Workshop with Luc Boeye archive
Monday 1 September 2014
Belgian turner Luc Boeye shows us around his workshop and tells us more about his work
Gallery
How, why and when did you start turning?
I started woodturning by visiting a woodfair in Antwerp, Belgium. An attentive woodturner gave me a flyer. That was the beginning of a long membership of the Flemish Guild of Woodturners. Probably now more than 20 years ago. I'm obsessed by wood.
What and who have been the greatest influences in your work?
To increase my knowledge of the English language, I read every magazine on woodturning. I suppose there will be an influence from that corner, but also from professional woodturners, such as Cindy Drozda and Jimmy Clewes. The one I admire the most is the club member who has great woodturning skills, who is willing to share every secret, who encourages other members and who participates in the survival of our Guild.
If you were to offer one sage piece of advice to someone what would it be?
I still have two eyes and want to keep it that way; always wear eye protection!
What music and which book are you currently into?
I lost my heart in the '80s in my workshop. The radio always plays songs from that period. I'm working as a head of a psychiatric section in a hospital in the north of Antwerp. I'm now reading 100% psychosis. Woodturning is an issue I work with, together with psychiatric patients.
What is your silliest mistake?
Thinking people are not interested in the art of woodturning.
What has been your greatest challenge?
Participating in an art event as the only woodturner.
Name one thing on your turning 'to do' list.
I have to make bracelets for my daughters before they finish school this year.
Tell us about the piece you are currently working on.
I am participating in an art event. The subject is World War I. I created 12 typical English helmets: 'the Brodie' helmet. Separated by a plexi plate, there are 12 faces. The title will be 'lost souls'.
What is the one piece of equipment or tool you would not be without and why?
I had always had problems with light. As you can see in the photo of my home-made jig on the previous page, I turned a 150mm cylinder, cut it in two, drilled a hole in it and stuck one half on my tailstock and the other one on the headstock. Now, I'm able to put my lamp in four different places. Two in the half cylinders and two in the attachments supplied with the lamp, which allows me greater flexibility with my work.
If you could change one thing what would it be and why?
I should ask every woodturner to make an art piece and decorate it on the outside of their house. It would be nice to see how many woodturners there are. Street view should be one great art event.