Artists showcase talents

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Stepping into the O’Donnell home, a visitor might admire the various pieces of wooden decor lining shelves in the family room next to board games or nestled in areas of the kitchen and nooks around the home.

That person may not guess, however, homeowner Jim O’Donnell created those pieces right out back in his own garage.

O’Donnell, a Lakewood Ranch resident who creates art by turning wood, is one of 20 featured artists at the Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch’s art show and sale this weekend.

The local organization will feature pieces ranging in price from $5 to $1,500, said Joan Brummer, the association’s president.

This is the group’s 12th fall show and sale, eight of which O’Donnell has been a part.

Fascinated by the tools used in wood turning, such as the lathe, and the process, O’Donnell decided to try the art form more than a decade ago.

Thirteen years later, O’Donnell finds himself divvying his time between family, work and his passion — often utilizing his favorite part of the tree — the burl — to create an item. Burls are large bumps, or overgrowths that hang off trees. But, to O’Donnell, they serve as distinct types of wood that look like cells being magnified under a microscope, he said.

Friends and those familiar with his work often contact him about trees being cut down to see if he is interested in using the wood. A friend in Georgia told him about a mahogany tree that was chopped down, and he made the trek from Florida just to retrieve his blank canvas.

Although wine stoppers and pens are his biggest sellers, they aren’t his favorite items to craft. O’Donnell prefers to make vases, for which he often uses materials from areas such as Africa and India.

Some of the smaller items, such as pens, take about two hours, while more involved pieces can take up to 80 hours, he said.

A full-time speech pathologist, O’Donnell doesn’t plan to quit his day job. Having the ability to choose when to step into his garage-turned-workshop and create art is something he values.

“An artist can see the inner beauty just by looking at the wood,” O’Donnell said. “It’s about seeing what that piece can be.”

IF YOU GO
Creative Arts Association of Lakewood Ranch Art Show and Sale
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16
Where: Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.