Meet the Instructors
Mark Tindley
Director / Lead Instructor
Mark trained in traditional Furniture Making and Machine Wood Working at London Metropolitan University before going on to the Fine Woodworking Diploma Program of the Building Crafts College where he graduated with distinction.
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Mark's primary focus is on fine furniture (particularly in the English or American arts and crafts styles), luxury built-in cabinetry and architectural woodworking. His expertise extends from a set of 300lb gothic trusses to an intricate reproduction of a Stradivarius violin.
He worked for many years in London, England and Northern California as a custom furniture and cabinet maker before starting his own woodworking business in 2014 catering to high end clients in San Francisco and the bay area. The projects he has produced showcase his expertise in hand cut joinery, veneering and an intimate connection with the material he loves.
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Mark has over 20 years of teaching and presenting experience and has been the Guild Chair of the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association since 2017.
timber
Program and Operations Manager Resident Instructor
timber is a designer, woodworker, and educator with a passion for all things wood. timber spent two years as a student at the Krenov School of Fine Furniture and since then has been awarded residencies and fellowships at the Peters Valley School of Craft (NJ), Anderson Ranch (CO), Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft (NC) and the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship (ME). timber also has a background in landscape architecture and environmental planning.
You can see see examples of timber's furniture and other woodworking commissions at www.timberworks-studio.com or on Instagram @timber.works.
Andrew Carruthers
Guest Instructor
Andrew is native of Oxfordshire, England. He worked at the Lawrence Berkeley Research Labs in California before deciding to follow his passion for building stringed instruments. He studied at the Welsh School of Violin Making and Repair. After graduating he joined the restoration workshops of Bein and Fushi in Chicago to apprentice under the guidance of master cello restorer, Russell Wagner. In 1996 he opened his own workshop in Santa Rosa, California, providing restoration services to the violin trade. Since 2015 all of his work has been devoted to building new instruments for clients across the US and in Europe. Andrew regularly makes high-end violins, cellos and violas. For fun and experimentation he has also made several wonderfully eccentric "off-beat" instruments plus some guitars, ukuleles and marimbas.
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Andrew teaches our Letter and Sign Carving class and the carving as surface decoration segment of our 9 month Fine Woodworking program.
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To see examples of Andrew's work please visit www.andrewcarruthers.com or find him on Instagram @carruthers.violins.
David J Marks
Guest Instructor
David J. Marks is recognized internationally as a master craftsman of fine furniture, turner, sculptor, and host of the television show “WoodWorks”. David hosted 91 episodes of WoodWorks which debuted on HGTV and the DIY Networks in 2002.
WoodWorks features step by step instructions for building contemporary studio furniture that David designed specifically for the show.
In 1981, he opened his own shop/studio and built one-of-a-kind furniture. In the late 1980’s he shifted his focus to woodturning and sculpture.
He has won numerous awards for his woodworking and woodturning, including two NICHE Awards in 2001, Best of Show in Artistry in Wood in Sonoma County, Best Piece Turning in Artistry in Wood for 2009, 2015, 2016, Award of Excellence 2012, 2013, 2019. In 2021 he won Best of Art “Artistry in Wood” for his wall sculpture titled Ocean.
Examples of his work appear in numerous publications such as Fine Woodworking Design Books #3, #6, #7, the Guild Source Book #7, Furniture Studio The Heart of Functional Arts.
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You can see his work at www.djmarks.com or on Instagram @davidmarkswoodworking.
Dan Stalzer
Guest Instructor
Dan completed a 4 year apprenticeship in construction carpentry before realizing his passion for Fine Woodworking. He studied under James Krenov in the late 1980's in Fort Bragg, CA. He occasionally returns there to teach in their summer program.
Dan is passionate about hand tool woodworking and passing on the craft. He specializes in chair making with green (unseasoned) wood - mostly Tan Oak - which he describes as "an ignored tree and wood". He estimates that he has taught his chair making class well over 100 times - and refined it each time!
Dan has won awards of excellence from the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association and exhibited numerous pieces of fine furniture with the North Coast Woodworker's Association.
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You can find him on Instagram @stalzerdan.
Sarah Watlington
Guest Instructor
Sarah Watlington is an artist and educator who makes sculptural furniture and other less useful art objects. They attended the Krenov School of Fine woodworking in Ft. Bragg, CA, 2018, and hold a BFA from the Design Institute of San Diego, 2010. Sarah teaches woodworking at San Diego State University as well as shorter intensives across the country and works out of her studio in Los Angeles, CA.
You can see Sarah's work at www.sarahwatlington.com or on Instagram @sarah_watlington
Sarah Grace Cheek
Guest Instructor
Sarah Grace Cheek is an artist and woodworker. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University in Craft & Material Studies where she focused in furniture and textile design. Her work centers around nourishment, curiosity and joy. Sarah Grace uses hand carving and power carving techniques to create most of her work. Some of her inspiration includes bones, rocks, bark, salvaged materials and antique textiles.
Sarah serves as the Assistant Director at Pocosin Arts School of Fine Craft in Columbia, NC.
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You can see SG's work at www.sarahgracecheek.com or on Instagram @sarah.grace.cheek
Harold Greene
Guest Instructor
Harold Greene has been designing and building furniture since 1975. His work has been featured in galleries and museums around Los Angeles and on HGTV’s Modern Masters. He has also written for Fine Woodworking Magazine and is often called on to judge woodworking competitions and curate contemporary crafts shows.
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His work can be found in a variety of residential, commercial and public settings. He recently installed a set of four large tables and 32 benches for the Port LA harbor at the new San Pedro Downtown Harbor and Town Square.
Other Major commissions include furniture for the lobby of the Disney Grand Californian Hotel, seating for the Ghost Fish plaza in San Pedro, and restoration
work on a Richard Neutra designed home in Palos Verdes.
Harold credits furniture makers of the Arts and Crafts Movement, such as the Greene brothers and the
Stickley brothers, as a source of inspiration for his work. “From the beginning I was drawn to the
Craftsman style. I really like showing the joinery in the furniture I build; the viewer can easily see at a
glance how it is put together.”
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You can see Harold's work at www.haroldgreenefinefurnishings.com or on Instagram @harold.greene
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Ron Ashby
Guest Instructor (Wood Finishing)
Ron has had a life-long passion for woodworking and is described by anyone who knows him as a Wood Finishing Geek. He grew up in a woodworking shop and has over 50 years experience with woodworking, finishing and refinishing. As the owner of Wood Finish Supply and www.shellac.net in Napa, CA he is a stocking distributor and technical service representative for several well-known finish manufacturers. Ron has a broad and varied expertise in dealing with a wide range of finish problems and solutions.
Ron has been teaching and lecturing on finishing, refinishing, and touch-up repairs for over 20 years, and regularly advises furniture factories all over the world to help them develop and improve their finishing. He was very active in the development of the California State and North Bay air quality wood coating regulations.
Ron spent 6 years as a professional photographer which he says gave him a full understanding of the importance of lighting for wood finishing applications.
Matthew Werner
Guest Instructor
Matthew Werner is a master furniture maker and marquetarian who was trained at the College of the Redwoods - Fine Woodworking Program (now the Krenov School). His start in the ancient art of marquetry came in 1999 from our school founder, Greg Zall.
Matthew's work is on exhibit at fine galleries, and also during the annual Santa Cruz Open Studios Art Tour.
He has taught marquetry and woodworking classes at the Marc Adams School of Woodworking, the William Ng School of Fine Woodworking, Cabrillo College, American Marquetry Society Workshops, as well as workshops in his own studio. Matthew is a patient
and engaging teacher who finds joy in passing on skills and knowledge.
Pierina dell'Avo
Guest Instructor
Pierina earned a bachelors degree at the School of Fine Arts in Lausanne and a diploma as a Furniture Maker in Zurich, Switzerland. She worked for the high end Gabella Interior Design in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was involved in numerous projects for hotels such as Beau-Rivage Palace, the concert hall in Turin, Italy, and building and designing tasting rooms for various wineries.
Pierina also teaches woodworking classes at College of Marin Community Education and is the educational Director at Spaulding Marine Center for the Boatwork 101 apprenticeship program.
Scott Wynn
Guest Instructor
Scott Wynn has been designing and building furniture professionally since 1976, maintaining a workshop in San Francisco specializing in limited production, one of a kind, and commissioned work. He is also a licensed and practicing Architect. His experience ranges from traditional furniture styles, including veneering, carving, turning, creating metal hardware, restoration of both furniture and historic buildings, millwork, cabinetry, and finish carpentry, to creating contemporary designs utilizing features of Danish Modern, Japanese and Chinese construction and style. He uses traditional hand tools extensively.
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Scott has written and illustrated articles on woodworking for Fine Woodworking, Woodwork Magazine, Fine Homebuilding and has written and illustrated 5 books,“The Woodworkers Guide to Handplanes”, “Getting Started with Handplanes”; “Discovering Japanese Handplanes”, “Traditional Wooden Handplanes”; and “Classic Handplanes and Joinery”.
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Scott has taught for the Kezurou-kai organization on Japanese planes, at Marc Adams School of Woodworking, and The Woodworkers Academy in Alameda (now closed), and
has lectured, taught and demonstrated extensively in the Bay Area for the last 25 years.
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You can see examples of Scott's work at www.scottwynnatelier.com
William Leeser
Guest Instructor
William Leeser is an accomplished woodworker and educator with experience in both traditional and modern woodworking techniques. After graduating from the Krenov School in 2017, he worked alongside master craftsman Craig Vandall Stevens at the Philadelphia Furniture Workshop, where he played a key role in running workshops and mentoring students. William now works out of his own studio, specializing in custom commissions and fine furniture.
With a strong foundation in hand tool techniques and an appreciation for both Western and Japanese woodworking traditions, William is committed to sharing his knowledge with students of all skill levels. His approach combines precision and craftsmanship with a deep understanding of woodworking principles, ensuring students leave his classes with a solid foundation of practical skills and confidence in their craft.
Michelle Natividad Stein
Guest Instructor
Michelle Natividad Stein is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on wood, ceramics and textiles. She is an MFA graduate from San Diego State
University (SDSU) specializing in Woodworking and Furniture design and has a BA in Art and Applied Design encompassing the mediums of wood, metal and clay.
Michelle was born in Subic Bay, US Naval Base, Philippines and currently lives in San Diego. She uses furniture and domestic items to explore the blend of beauty, functionality and community.
Her passion is teaching, and she lives for that “Ah ha!” moment her students experience. Michelle has taught woodworking and furniture design at several schools in San Diego including Palomar School of Woodworking, San Diego State University and University of California San Diego Craft Center.
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You can see Michelle's work on Instagram @Studio_Natividad
Chelsea Witt
Guest Instructor
Chelsea Witt is a furniture maker, artist, and educator based in Southern Maine. They graduated from the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship’s Furniture Intensive course and then worked for makers such as Alexis Dold, Tyler Hays, Christina Boy and Heide Martin. Chelsea earned a BFA at the University of South Florida with a focus in sculpture and has a broad background in art, illustration, woodworking, and furniture making.
Chelsea is the education director for The Chairmaker’s Toolbox and serves on the board of directors for The Furniture Society. They teach furniture design at Mass Art University, CO, instruct in the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship’s furniture intensive, and travel to various craft schools around the country on a yearly basis teaching woodworking skills.
Darryl Dieckman
Guest Instructor
Furniture maker Darryl Dieckman is interested in reinterpreting iconic designs from the past in
beautiful woods and adapting their function for everyday use. Born and raised in Ohio with a
25-year career in technology, Darryl is now a recovering software engineer living in Northern
California. His passion for fine woodworking blossomed in 2010 when he began attending
classes at Marc Adams Woodworking School in Indiana with his father during annual Father’s
Day visits to the Midwest. Then a spiritual experience building large scale art at the Burning
Man festival emboldened the pursuit of a new career path. In 2016, he attended the Fine Furniture program at the Krenov School. His recent work exhibits an attention to detail and exacting hand work that are hallmarks of the program.
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Sarah Marriage
Guest Instructor
Sarah Marriage is a maker of fine furniture and other wooden objects. She is the founder and president of A Workshop of Our Own (WOO), a woodworking school and community shop in Baltimore dedicated to providing a supportive space for women and gender-nonconforming craftspeople.
Born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Sarah studied architecture at Princeton University and fine woodworking at The College of the Redwoods (now The Krenov School). She has taught at The Krenov School, Penland School of Craft, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and trade shows across the U.S., including Dwell on Design in Los Angeles, ICFF in New York, and Pritam & Eames Gallery in East Hampton, NY. Sarah is also a former editor of Woodcraft Magazine.
Michael Cullen
Guest Instructor
Michael Cullen is a furniture maker and sculptor who has a studio and workshop in an eighteenth century barn in western Connecticut. His pieces range from delicate work that can fit in the palm of your hand to massive ones that are best moved with a crane. He’s been widely published and his work is in private and public collections around the world. He is a frequent contributor to Fine Woodworking Magazine. His love of teaching and making has taken him to Nepal, New Zealand, Europe and all over North America.
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You can see examples of Michael's work on Instagram @michaelcullendesign
