neilv's Profile

Bio

My Work

My design aesthetic has been described as "post modern mission," with its clean and simple lines, and its emphasis on craftsmanship and functionality. Among my influences as a woodworker are many well known craftsman, including George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, James Krenov, Gustav Stickley, and Wendell Castle, as well as the long and rich Japanese tradition of craftsmanship -- Ryokan to temple to exquisitely hand-crafted furniture.

Above all I value the beauty of wood as a natural working medium, the honesty of the straight line or perfect curve, and the simplicity of practical usefulness. I feel the work should honor the tree from which it came, and should last as long as it will take for another tree to grow and replace it. I continue to learn with each new piece and project, and I look forward to a lifetime of creating new work.


About Me

Professionally, I design and build furniture, and am a luthier. I also provide technology consulting and information design services, teach, and write on technology design among other things. Personally, I like to travel, I develop open source software (most notably the recent release of calliope, an open source music server), and have a pretty wide range of interests.

I have been a professional woodworker for nearly 20 years, designing and building furniture for clients throughout the U.S. and Europe as well. Feel free to drop a line anytime - you can find my website at neil dot verplank dot org. Or, drop by my studio: N 42 degrees 51.628 minutes W 87 degrees 41.263 minutes.

Favorite Materials

Wood