About John Beall:
Background:
I am originally from Washington, D.C. but have called Florida my home since 1971. I was stationed at the Orlando Naval Base while serving in the U.S. Navy as a Corpsman. I liked Florida, so I decided to stay when I finished my time in the Navy. My wife and I moved to Fort Myers in 2020 to be near our son and family. I am a graduate of the University of Florida, where I earned a Doctor of Education degree. I worked 36 years as a teacher, Principal and Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Osceola County, and as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Central Florida and the Nova Southeastern University. I have been a member of Rotary since 1986. I am a member of the American Association of Woodturners and the Woodturners of Southwest Florida.

I have been a woodcarver for over twenty years. I always enjoyed working with my hands in many different mediums. Over the years I have made many pieces of furniture. I took drawing classes, and did graphite and colored pencils drawings. While in high school, I took a wood working class and learned how to wood turn. I really enjoyed wood turning, and after retiring in 2011, I decided to learn more about this technique.

My Process:
I sculpture wood using a technique called “segmented wood turning”. Another style of word turning is called “basket illusion wood turning”. In this technique, I design and draw the pattern of the piece I want to create on graph paper. Once this is done, I cut and glue segments of wood in rings to form the shape of the piece. Using a lathe, I turn the rings into the shape of my design. Following that, I turn horizontal beads into the piece. Next, I draw vertical lines, and using a wood burning tool, form the thousands of individual small beads. The beads are then painted with India ink to mirror the original design. When completed, the wood turning gives an illusion of being a woven basket.