December 2019 3D Featured Artist Jim Ellsworth

im Ellsworth, a retired banking executive, college professor and community leader from Northwest Indiana, began his wood turning experience in 2004.

Learning basic skills of woodworking in a high school shop class led Jim to pursue furniture making as one of his hobbies during his working career. Upon retiring to Florida he began looking for other woodworking opportunities and ultimately chose wood turning as an outlet for his creative energy.

Initially self-taught, Jim quickly began honing his skills by attending classes led by nationally recognized wood turners at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina and the Arrowmont School for the Arts in Tennessee. Additionally, Jim has traveled from coast to coast attending seminars and symposiums on an array of wood turning topics and techniques.

Jim has won a number of awards in recent years for his turnings exhibited at various juried art and turning expositions. While continuing to produce pieces in a wide range of turning styles he is now chiefly specializing in the art of segmented turnings.

Jim is a member of Peace River Wood Turners, serving as President for the years 1012/13 and 2016/17, The American Association of Wood Turners and The Association of Segmented Wood Turners. He has also served The Arts and Humanities Council of Charlotte County by working on its “ArtSensation” steering committee.