About the Artist

John Lynch was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the suburbs.  He attended college in Missouri, receiving a B.S. in Industrial Technology.

During college John was introduced to furniture design, furniture fabrication, and lathe work.  Missouri has great hardwood forests, and in these forests John spent much of his spare time hunting, fishing, and admiring Mother Nature’s splendor.

In the years following college, John and his young wife Peggy moved to the serene island shores of Rainey Lake, Minnesota.  Because of his training in Industrial Technology and his love of nature, they purchased a dilapidated millionaire’s mansion that dated back to 1915, with hopes of turning it into something extraordinary.

Thus, John began the massive restoration project on the mansion, which was soon to become a fabulous fishing resort.  The endeavor required very innovative thinking and a lot of hard work.  Amazingly, at the same time, John was set to work building and running a wonderfully rustic restaurant on the mainland that was reminiscent of the lumberjack era. After fifteen years, John and Peggy left the completed resort and restaurant, and John began to pursue his main interest – woodworking.

Since 1984 John has been a resident of Estes Park, Colorado, and has devoted himself to woodworking full time.  Seeking new and innovative designs, he has explored various avenues and styles, while continuing to hone his time-honored techniques. However, the concept of simplicity in design has always intrigued him, and recently the lure of Early-American Folk Art in the form known as “rustic” or “twig” art captured his imagination.  Subsequently, John has sought to blend utility with aesthetics in a furniture style he calls “Rustic Elegance.”

John’s furniture has caught the eye of many people, including the Archdiocese of Denver – who commissioned him to build a remarkable armoire for the Pope, but John has diverted much of his recent efforts to bowlturning.  John loves the challenge of turning a large chunk of wood into a work of art.  He says the goal is “to find the unique characteristics that Mother Nature placed there and draw them out.”

And he certainly does just that. John turns a variety of bowls, from rustic and multipurpose utility bowls to paper-thin vessels and hollow forms.  One of John’s most spectacular techniques is etching and burning graphic designs into his creations.  Also, he often enhances his pieces by introducing naturally colored stones, such as turquoise, into some designs, with the end result being a unique creation enhanced by dramatic color.

John’s work is currently shown in several of the most celebrated galleries in Estes Park and Grand Lake, and he often gives personal tours of his Estes Park studio upon request.  A delightful art form, John’s work is created to awe and inspire the many admirers who have been drawn to his work throughout the years. Whether influenced by Native American, Irish/Celtic, or Asian cultures, John Lynch’s woodworking is an eclectic blend of superior talent and taste, sure to be appreciated and cherished as a timeless classic.