Alain Mailland

Woodturner

©Alain Mailland

Sculpting natural forms in wood

Alain turns green (wet) wood, then leaves it to dry before sculpting it
This process can take a few years
He developed special tools to turn wood flowers and other natural forms

Alain Mailland first studied fine arts but his heart wasn’t really in it. After two years he gave up and went to earn a living on building sites as a roof carpenter. He worked in construction for the next 15 years and it was during the later part of these years when he discovered woodturning. The first time he turned a piece of wood he knew instantly that this was what he wanted to do. After an internship, he started by turning and selling bowls and vases. However, one day he had the idea to create flowers out of wood, and from there, little by little, he developed a unique technique of carving and sculpting wood into delicate yet spectacular forms inspired by nature.

Interview

©Alain Mailland

©Alain Mailland

Where do your ideas come from?: Nature and the sea are important sources of inspiration. Seeds, mushrooms, insects, plants, all those forms interest me. Even science fiction! In nature there are some very beautiful structures that can be fairly easily reproduced with sculpture techniques.
Do you use any wood in particular?: I mainly use wood from my region of southern France. Over the past 20 years of working with different types of local wood, I have got to know them, learned to understand their language, what they can give, their technical and mechanical capabilities, and their decorative characteristics.
Which techniques do you use most?: Though I’m called a woodturner, in fact I’m more of a wood artist. I will always be a turner in my soul, because I love it and I’ve invented specific turning techniques, but actually I only turn the pieces right at the beginning, I spend more time sculpting than turning. There’s also a lot of sanding and finishing.
Why do you love this job so much?: Because I can make the work I want to make, when I want to do it. Of course there are constraints, but generally I do what I want. I love that sense of freedom, to be able to realise my ideas and bring happiness to those who like my work. If my work makes people happy, then I’m happy too.

Alain Mailland is a master artisan: he began his career in 1995 and he started teaching in 2001