Doug McPherson is one of the newer artists to showcase his work at Flat River Gallery and Framing. The Saranac resident has been part of the gallery’s cooperative for less than a year. But he has had his own woodworking business since 2014 and has been doing it full-time since 2017.
A History in Working with Wood
McPherson says he has always enjoyed working with wood. “I took woodshop class in high school and my father and grandfather always did everything themselves in terms of making things and fixing, so it was part of how I viewed the world I suppose.” he says reflecting on his past. Aside from a handful of brief periods in his life where he couldn’t work with wood, he usually had some sort of project going.
Learning from his grandfather, Jack, McPherson learned how to fix and build things. But it was his grandfather’s love of his grandmother and the family that was taken to heart. McPherson remembers hunting, fishing, and building with his grandfather. It was through that building that his personal hobby grew. The Craftsman bandsaw and table saw were the first power tools McPherson operated.
From Hobby to Business
In 2014 McPherson started his own business, McPherson Visions in Wood. Before then he says his progression started as a hobby, developed into a serious hobby, then a side hustle, and finally an established business. In October 2017 McPherson quit his day job as an auditor and Provider Network Manager for the Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan to pursue woodworking full-time.
When Frederik Meijer Gardens (FMG) was in the process of expanding their Japanese Gardens the Director of Horticulture, Steven LaWarre, contacted McPherson to make two benches to match two that were already in place. LaWarre knew of McPherson’s work and is also a resident of Saranac. McPherson was happy to take on the project and create two benches for the garden.
The bulk of the wood used for projects comes from McPherson’s collecting unwanted logs within the area. A couple of times a year, when there’s a weekend worth of work, he calls a friend with a portable sawmill. The two work together to mill the logs that are then stacked and stickered (the use of narrow pieces of wood between layers of lumber that allows air flow for proper drying) for future use. This selection of wood is then used for projects until the supply runs low and the process begins again.
McPherson regularly uses most of the common domestic hardwoods including maple, ash, cherry, and both red and white oak. His favorite type of wood to work with is black walnut. “It’s just a pleasure to look at, to work with, to smell.” he says complimenting this type of wood. Picking the right wood for each project is important. McPherson is able to distinguish between the characteristics of each type of wood to determine aesthetics and other physical characteristics that will enhance the final product being made.
A Variety of Pieces
Inspired by nature, McPherson likes making artificially designed pieces that flow out of elements found in nature. His hall river tables are the most fun for him to create. “I feel like the design was genuinely something that came from me and people seem to really like them.” he says of these pieces. He will also work on custom orders. Typically the process starts with a collaboration on design of a piece. Once a price and time frame is agreed upon a deposit is collected and the project is put on his schedule.
One lesson McPherson has learned over the years is making sure the lumber he’s using is completely dry before building with it. He has learned the hard way a couple of times that if it is not completely dry issues with shrinking and cracking will occur.
The hardest piece McPherson has made to date is a lectern that was built specifically for a 100+ year Bible. It involved a combination of inlay, veneer work, carving, and organic design. The piece stretched his creativity and he’s proud of the end product. “I was also very relieved when I learned that it arrived safely.” he comments on shipping it off to his client in Alaska.
Showcasing Items at Flat River Gallery and Framing
McPherson offers a wide variety of furniture and decorative items using his woodworking skills. A selection of his work can be seen at Flat River Gallery and Framing located at 219 W. Main. They are open Tuesday through Friday 11am – 6pm and Saturday 10am – 4pm. McPherson also has a webpage and Facebook page where more photos of his work and information about his pieces can be seen.
Photos courtesy of Doug McPherson and used with permission.
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