Jon Hall teaches our one-day ‘Woodcarving‘, ‘Spoon Carving’ and ‘Cigar Box Slide Guitar’ workshops. He teaches with care and patience and loves to see how happy people are with their hard day’s work.
Jon trained as a wood carver and gilder. Although he has mastered these ancient crafts, Jon is adept in the modern world of electronics, having built several amplifiers and he can fix just about everything. He is currently building a modular analog synthesizer – a lunetta (I know…). He was thrilled to find an abandoned ‘one arm bandit’ last week as it has an array of coloured wiring he can use.
He spends the week making incredibly complicated and detailed lighting structures that grace the mansions of the world. The welding and wiring are often complex and the glints from hundreds of tiny bulbs have to set off the cut glass and polished metal so that the results are magical.
Last year, he found an injured baby squirrel that he raised at home. Not wanting it to become a pet, he was delighted that the squirrel rallied and left by the open window one day to enjoy an independent life. Some days later, squirrel returned and popped a nut into the pocket of a hanging coat before leaving for good. Maybe it was his way of saying thanks.
Jon also plays (and makes) many instruments – including a Maccann duet concertina. You can find him playing several charming songs on his Youtube channel. You can also find some anarchic animations he made some time back. Take a look at the video below where Jon plays a beautiful rendition of ‘Feed the Birds’ on his concertina…
