Remembering James Krenov

James Krenov by David J. Marks

James Krenov recently died at age 88 on September 9, 2009. He was truly a remarkable man. I discovered his books in the 1970’s and was amazed by his extremely high level of skill and craftsmanship.

In 1981, I opened my furniture shop/studio in Santa Rosa, California and within the first year was further amazed to find out that Jim had started a woodworking school called the “College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking” approximately 2 ˝ hours north of Santa Rosa in Fort Bragg. With two small children at home, attending the school was not an option for me, although it was the beginning of many journeys to the school and to the galleries of Mendocino to see the incredible work that Jim and his international group of students were producing.

It is difficult to explain the full extent of the impact that Jim had on Northern California back in the 1980’s. Here was a true “Master” living and teaching near the coast of Northern California and his woodworking influence spread like a Tsunami throughout the region. His insights, passion, and intuitive knowledge of the properties of wood and his ability to apply those skills to produce elegant cabinets and furniture as well as to impart that knowledge to his students were unprecedented.

By the late 1980’s Jim had accepted an invitation to make a presentation to the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association. I served as the Chairman of the S.C.W.A. at the time, so I had the honor of driving him to the venue where he presented his lecture as well as taking him out to dinner. When he spoke about cabinet making and fine furniture, his passion filled the room. He was a rare individual, born in Siberia; he spent his early years in Shanghai, China. His family then moved to Alaska where his parents were teachers for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. During his twenties he moved to Seattle, Washington where he attended school and later got into building fine wooden boats. By 1947 he moved to Stockholm, Sweden where he studied design and furniture making with Carl Malmsten. His focus was always on creating at the highest possible level. He was known to avoid conversations about the reality of trying to earn a living as a woodworker. Rather instead he reminded us students of the value of doing something meaningful.

In 2003 when I found myself hosting “Woodworks”, a television program on furniture making, I was yet again amazed when he accepted our invitation to be interviewed for an episode we called “Masters and Mentors”. I was filled with anticipation during the long 2 ˝ hour drive with the crew to Jim’s home and studio in Fort Bragg. Jim was known to be short tempered sometimes. Fortunately, he had a nap before we arrived and he was warm and friendly to the crew and me. He opened up his home to us and he was in fine form as I presented him with questions about the craft in his living room. I recall asking him a loaded question stating “how important is improvisation when working with wood?” His response was immediate. He said “Improvisation is a tremendously important ingredient because that’s what free creativity in any media includes. Guesswork and hoping and trying different things and the ability to recognize when you are on the right track. Without that, you might as well have a working drawing and just follow it and grit your teeth!”

Next he took us on a tour of his woodshop and after discussing the rhythm of hand cut dovetails, his attention landed on an unusual piece of wood. Suddenly he picked it up, brought it to his nose, inhaled deeply and with a satisfied look handed it to me and said “Somebody tell me what that is?” I immediately followed suit, took the piece of wood, began to smell it and the next thing I knew I was timidly saying “Cedar of Lebanon?” “At a boy!” Jim exclaimed. I was dumbfounded, I got it right and the crew was right there capturing it for TV.

To my knowledge, Jim did very few videotaped interviews and it is possible that the Woodworks Masters & Mentors episode may be the only one that was televised. I feel very fortunate that circumstance had it that I was able to introduce him to many appreciative people through that show. Jim Krenov had a huge influence on my work. Even though our styles are very different, through him I learned the importance of slowing down, paying attention to fine details, working carefully, and the importance of working towards the finest level of craftsmanship that you are capable of. Jim’s legacy will live on through his books and teachings and the many lives he touched.

Thank you Jim for your enormous contribution to the world of fine woodworking.

You can watch the entire DIYNET Woodworks episode David refers to online here: Masters and Mentors Episode