Roper Woodturning

Michael Roper is a third generation carpenter / woodworker who fell in love with wood turning while studying in the Fine Woodworking program at Red Rocks Community College. He has been practicing carpentry since he was a teenager, working with his grandfather and uncle. From exterior framing to installing hard wood floors, to custom interior beam work and timber framing, to building and installing built-in furniture, he has a diverse range of experiences working in the medium of wood. This diversity has only expanded during his years of studying at Red Rocks, where he has earned his Craftsman Certificate in Spring 2010. Along with learning how to spin wood on the lathe, he has learned how to lay out and cut joinery by hand, how to take a standing tree down to useable material, and the crucial elements of design that interact with the way he approaches wood. Roper lives in the mountains above Denver, where the forests, mountains, and animals inspire him to leave his pieces as natural as possible, to focus on the inner beauty of the wood. He uses local and sustainable wood and all natural finishes whenever possible. Because many people have never seen wood turned before, Roper takes a portable lathe with him to craft shows and farmer’s markets. He finds people are fascinated by the simplicity of the process of transformation that wood goes through. His toys, pens, bowls, and furniture can be viewed at www.coloradocustomworks.com. His pens are also for sale at Express Yourself in Evergreen, and all of his products are available at various farmer’s markets and craft shows around Colorado. He just graduated from Red Rocks Community College with an Associates Degree in Finewoodworking and will be teaching woodturning in the fall of 2011 at Red Rocks and is the chairperson for the Mentoring Program for the Front Range Woodturners. Winner of the 2010 EOG Grant from the Front Range Woodturners, April 2011 Turning Challenge winner from the Front Range Woodturners, 2011 Collegian Excellence Award winner from the American Association of Woodturners,1st Place Art Sculpture at the Denver County Fair 2011. 2012 Pete Holtus EOG winner from the Front Range Woodturners.3rd Place Art Sculpture at the Denver County Fair 2012.