Bio

Curtis began seriously working with wood in 2000, after a successful career in the high tech industry. His work began with a focus on furniture, but evolved to include carving, turning and photography.

Curtis traces his interest in building and crafting items to his early childhood. He still has the first tool box he made from scraps at the age of 10. He found inspiration from his maternal grandmother, who help him discover the excitement of recycling items into pieces with a new life. He spent much of his youth exploring nature, and building a variety of things, from fishing tackle to shoji screens.

While most of his life was influenced by a strong entrepreneurial drive, his artistic side was quietly developing. He developed a love of teaching as a scuba instructor and dive guide. This allowed him to teach others the joy of diving and the exploration of nature. His enjoyment of teaching surfaced during his professional years, and continues into all aspects of woodworking.

He wrote a monthly article for the Highland Woodturner for many years. Currently, Curtis enjoys traveling domestically and internationally conducting hand tool woodworking demonstrations and classes for Lie-Nielsen Toolworks. He also enjoys teaching woodworking and woodturning at the Austin School of Furniture and design, Austin WoodCraft and private class in his Round Rock studio. He was the 2012 President of Central Texas Woodturners, a member of the American Association of Woodturners, and Fine Woodworkers of Austin.

Curtis lives and works in Central Texas with his wife and four young children.