Paul Eisenhauer had been a hobbyist woodworker for many years, but that changed after his time working as curator and director of the Wharton Esherick Museum, the home and studio of the renowned woodworker Wharton Esherick. Instead of continuing to make pieces of furniture from flat, squared boards, Paul began shaping and sculpting wood from logs and branches. Since retiring from the museum, he’s concentrated on carving bowls and spoons. Paul draws inspiration from his experiences at the museum and from the natural world around him, blending flowing organic forms with traditional functional designs.
Visitors to Paul’s shop in Celo can see his process of carving with both hand and power tools. Most of his wood is local, coming from generous friends and neighbors. In his designs, Paul works to respect the nature and character of each log or branch as he sculpts a bowl or spoon. His recent designs reflect his experimentation with natural elements of the wood — weathering, occlusions, bark, and live edges.
While Paul’s work can be found in galleries, he usually has a sampling of finished work and many works in process at his studio.
Hours: 12-5 pm, by appointment only.
