Jon Ogata

Jon was born and raised in Waimea, Kauai, where his father spent a designing and building furniture from island Koa wood, and where hiking opportunities opened to him the beauty of nature in all its forms. His involvement in the arts began with photography in the 1970’s. Some of his photographs are marketed by the stock agency Photo Resource Hawaii. After taking wood sculpting classes in the art community of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico in the summer of 2010, Jon became an enthusiastic wood artist. He began to apply the knowledge and skill in artistic design that he learned from a wide variety of art classes, including wood sculpting as well as a workshop with acclaimed photographer Ansel Adams. Attracted by a desire to expand his interest in wood sculpting and by the camaraderie of like minds, he became a member of Honolulu Woodturners. After seeing outstanding wood turnings produced by club members expressing the beautiful natural designs of wood grains, he quickly became inspired to become a wood turner himself. Jon remains amazed and entranced by the beauty of wood, much as his father was.