Tom Henscheid

Tom Henscheid is a native of southeastern Idaho. He received a BFA in art in 1977 and then moved to Seattle in 1978. His work as a general contractor consisted primarily of cabinetry, custom furniture, antique restoration and major remodels. During his lifelong career as a professional craftsman, Tom sprinkled in a few years as a metal fabricator, a bit of precision tig welding, custom hardware fabrication, and some magazine photo work, but he always returned to woodworking. However the metal work has been a constant component. 

Carving and woodturning was a part of Tom’s business, and it’s also how he spent a lot of his free time. The continuous thread in his nearly 50-year career has been carving spoons and turning wood. 

In 1978 Tom became friends with a native woodcarver. He taught Tom how to make the bent knives that would change the way Tom carved spoons. The expectation was that Tom would pass these skills along, and eventually led to Tom teaching at Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle. His favorite skills to teach are spoon carving tool making. Having these skills has expanded his enjoyment and he’s coming to Port Townsend to share them with you.