Helps to have a cute kid who doesn’t (usually) mind sitting in once and while as a model. Here’s Issy with another of Mike Millard’s gorgeous Froggys. Been shooting with Mike and Co. for years now, and it’s always a good time. To see more of these beautiful works of art, check out the Froggy site.
Hand tool woodworker extraordinaire Scott Nehring
VT is a veritable incubator for highly talented craftpeople and artisans. My pals at Froggy Bottom Guitars certainly come to mind, as well as a variety of painters, sculptors, potters, and woodworkers. When Scott Nehring and I first met over a decade ago at the now – sadly – defunct Stratton Arts Festival, I was immediately impressed by the quality of his work and willingness to share what he knew.
Armed with an impressive set of skills and an equally impressive mindset that will accept nothing less than impeccable work, Scott works in the hand tool tradition of master Japanese woodworkers of times past. His knowledge of his art is expansive, and he has won the not-easily-surrendered respect of traditional woodworkers the world over. As a result, he’s been afforded the luxury of producing magnificent one-off pieces of furniture for individuals able – and willing – to commission him.
Scott’s also been able to deftly transfer his skill to the making of wonderful violins, one of which is the treasured possession of the resident violinist in our home. Handmade instruments of this caliber are difficult to find, at any price, and considering the huge influx to these shores of cheap, but reasonably well made instruments from China, and now Korea, it’s a tribute to tenacity that Scott and other makers like him – Doug Cox comes to mind – hang in there. We did some photos a while back of Scott’s work and they were posted on his website, which is apparently off-line right now, but don’t let that stop you.
And if you’re into quality for quality’s sake, you could do a lot worse than to plug in with the guys at Froggy Bottom, Doug Cox, or Scott Nehring, all of whom are continuing in the long tradition of VT artisans. Photographing this work is hardly work at all. MTC… Herve
