Personal Bio
DAVID J. MARKS
Designer/Craftsman
www.djmarks.com
David J. Marks is recognized internationally as a master craftsman of fine furniture, turner, sculptor, and host of the television show “WoodWorks”. David hosted 91 episodes of WoodWorks which debuted on HGTV and the DIY Networks in 2002.
The show won critical acclaim and aired on the DIY network for 6 years. It was soon syndicated to the “How To” channel in Australia where it aired for several years. WoodWorks features step by step instructions for building contemporary studio furniture that David designed specifically for the show. Everything was videotaped on location in David’s woodworking studio in Santa Rosa, CA.
In 1981, he opened his own shop/studio and built one-of-a-kind furniture. In the late 1980’s he shifted his focus to woodturning and sculpture. David began experimenting in the late 1980s with gilding and patinas. His patina finish is a hybrid of multiple finishes that he has developed. It combines painting, gilding (metal leafing), chemical patinas, and lacquering techniques. The complex layers result in a finish that may look ancient, metallic, or even stone like of an ancient, petrified stone quality.
This process has become the trademark of his wall sculptures, one of which won a Niche award in 2001 and many of his turned vessels. He has won numerous awards for his woodworking and woodturning, including two NICHE Awards in 2001, and is a four time winner of Best of Show in Artistry in Wood in Sonoma County, California, plus Best Piece Turning in Artistry in Wood for 2009, 2015, 2016, an Award of Excellence for his Japanese Maple Leaf Long Neck Vessel in 2012,and an Award of Excellence for his hexagonal sculptures in 2013.
In 2017 his vessel titled Sensei, which has a total height of 57 inches (on the stand including the threaded lid), won First Place in the category Wood Turning Embellished/Mixed Media as well as the Sponsor’s Choice Perpetual Trophy at the prestigious “Design in Wood” show in San Diego, CA.
Examples of his work appear in numerous publications such as Fine Woodworking Design Books #3, #6, #7, the Guild Source Book #7, Furniture Studio The Heart of Functional Arts, as well as many others. His work was profiled in the October 2008 issue of Woodwork magazine. In May 2011 he appeared on the cover issue of the prestigious British publication Woodturning magazine which was accompanied by an in depth article on his career. He is one of the featured artists in the 2017 book titled The Invisible Line: When Craft Becomes Art.
In May 2015 David taped an episode for the PBS member television station WGBH Rough Cut-Woodworking with Tommy Mac show in which he turns a hollow vessel, followed with his signature gilding and chemical patination finish.
David is a current member of the American Association of Woodturners, Wine Country Woodturners, and the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association. He resides in Santa Rosa, California where he teaches classes in his workshop/studio in addition to working on his own projects. He also has traveled and taught extensively throughout the United States, including teaching classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking in Indiana 2003 – 2009, the William Ng School of Fine Woodworking in California 2007 – 2008, SWAT Symposium 2007, Utah Woodturning Symposium 2008, guest instructor for the San Diego Fine Woodworkers Association 2010, Orange County Woodworkers Association 2010, Rocky Mountain Woodturners Symposium 2010, America Association of Woodturners (AAW) annual symposiums 2010, 2013, 2016, the Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts 2015, plus workshops for numerous woodworking and woodturning groups. He has released numerous educational DVDs including Gilding & Chemical Patination, Jigs & Fixtures for Curvilinear Woodworking, which has won a 2007 bronze Telly Award, Scrapers, Bandsawn Veneers, Double Bevel Marquetry, and the WoodWorks DVDs. You can see his work at his website www.djmarks.com
AFFILIATIONS:
American Association of Woodturners since 2000
Baulines Crafts Guild Master Member since 1989; President 1999 & 2000; Board of Directors 1989 – 1995
Furniture Society became a member 1998
Collectors of Wood Art became a member 1998
American Craft Council became a member 1987
Sonoma County Woodworkers Association since 1982; Guild Member since 1983; Chairman 1987 & 1988, Program Director 1989 & 1990