Douglas J Fisher is a full-time artist living on Vancouver Island, Canada.

Since 1992 he has been involved almost exclusively in creating some form of art, including painting, stained glass, photography, pen and ink drawing, and wood art. Wood sculptures, primarily made using a lathe, have been the focus of his work since 1997. When not in his studio, Douglas can often be seen performing in theatre productions.

Prior to becoming a full-time artist, he taught skiing and sailing, was an ironworker, a driller and blaster in several underground gold mines, and delivered sailboats in the Pacific Northwest, the Caribbean, and across the Atlantic Ocean.

Influences from the art world are many but Douglas has always liked the work of Monet, Seurat, Rodin and Bernini. “I had the opportunity to see several Seurats at the Musee d’Orsay in Paris and what fascinated me the most was not seeing his painting “The Circus” which was stunning, but seeing the working model beside it. To glimpse a portion of this creative process for me was worth the total price of admission.”

Douglas is known internationally for his unique style of wood turned sculptures. His works are in private collections around the world.

 PROCESS

"I usually use woods indigenous to Vancouver Island such as big leaf maple or cedar. The logs are slabbed into flitches which then air dry on my property. Sections are then cut from these, cut into rounds on the bandsaw and mounted onto the lathe. Depending on the series I am working on these blanks can be turned, re-mounted and turned again from two to six times. The carving and textures are created using hand gouges, rotary tools and woodburning pens. These days I can turn several ‘canvasses’ in a day and then spend weeks on the non-turned elements. The rich deep colours are a result of layer upon layer of transparent dyes. One really has to look to see all the various colours stacked and blended together in one of my pieces. The time put into the carving process averages around 80% of the total time put into the piece. Applying lightfast wood dyes is when the piece really starts to come alive. Building layer of colour upon layer of colour to create an old world, timeless quality is what I am out to achieve. Finally several coats of lacquer are applied which deepens the colour and adds even more depth."

 Lathe where all the turning is done with a row of grinders behind for sharpening tools 

Carving station with wood blanks underneath for future pieces.

Layout and dying areas with more wood blanks underneath.

Dyes and brushes.

A view towards the back staging room.

Turnings ready to be carved and finished pieces ready to be spray lacquered

Turning at the lathe.