Betty J Scarpino

I carve abstract wood sculptures, primarily from local hardwoods!  Recently, I have been experimenting with woodcut prints, papermaking, and inking messages on prints.

Woodcarving. Embossing. Handmade paper. Scripting words onto prints …. the longer version is below:

In 1975, I took woodworking class at the University of Missouri, just for fun. I learned about wood and machinery and how to build furniture. As an after-thought, I was introduced to the wood lathe–woodturning. While in school, I also took sculpture classes where a conversation with the instructor stayed with me. I had asked about the lathe in the back room, “Can woodturning be considered sculpture?” He declared that it couldn’t. I thought otherwise and have explored the possibilities throughout my 40-year career by cutting apart, carving, combining, and painting wood-turned forms (bowls, discs, plates, spheres, pod-shaped cylinders). After all, these forms are the building blocks of sculpture! I am now expanding my repertoire to include embossing, printmaking, papermaking, and written words, pairing those with woodturning and carving.

In addition to practicing my craft, I have demonstrated woodturning nationally as well as internationally, taught woodturning and woodcarving workshops at several art and craft schools throughout the U.S., given presentations at various conferences, and been employed as the editor-in-chief of an international journal dedicated to the field of woodturning. I also author articles for magazines and journals. Currently, my art-making practice is my primary focus.

More than two dozen museums include my work in their permanent collections, I am represented in numerous private collections, and–best of all–my family and friends enjoy living with my creations!