Mike Pankion is a full time woodturner with over two decades of woodworking experience. In juried shows, he has been the recipient of several awards for “Best of Show” and “First Place honors” for his bowls, vases, hollow forms and art forms.

Mike prefers to utilize various wood burls along with ambrosia and spalted maples in the development of his art. Although there is an increased degree of difficulty and potential for failure in the turning with these types of wood, he feels they have a visual texture that only “Mother Nature” can provide. The increased degree of difficulty and natural imperfections only add to the final beauty of the art.

He states that his degree in Engineering from Penn State University has helped him with the technical aspects of the art. He states that his degree in Engineering from Penn State University has helped him with the technical aspects of turning, but the artistic form and flow comes from both the wood and within.

Teaching is a natural extension of Mike’s creative talents. He has demonstrated in wood working shows nationally, such as “The Woodworking Shows” and has been called upon to lecture and demonstrate for several clubs in Florida, Alaska and New York. Mike has taught turning at The College of Applied Science at the University of Cincinnati and is a member of both the Ohio Valley Woodturners Guild and The American Association of Woodturners (AAW). He also conducts private lessons and classes.

The pleasure derived from turning is evident in the art he produces. His work can be seen at many state juried shows and at the Creative Presents Gallery in West Chester, Ohio, and Everything Art, also in West Chester.