Some problems in woodworking and furniture making are technical. A joint that won't close, a curve that won't hold shape, the dimension of material to use, a species that keeps failing when steam bending.
Others are harder to name — a sense that your work isn't yet saying what you want it to say, or that you're solving the same problems repeatedly without getting further.
Ross works with makers on both kinds of problems.
On bending
Much of Ross's practice — and much of what makers seek him out for — involves bent form. Steam bending, kerf bending, laminated bending, and the mould-making and species selection that makes any of them actually work. These methods are related but not interchangeable, and knowing when to reach for each one, and why, is the kind of judgment that takes years to develop alone.
If you're working with bent form and hitting a wall, that's a good reason to get in touch.
On extending your practice
On extending your practice
Bending is one thread. But makers seek Ross out for broader questions too — how to develop an idea from sketch to resolved form, how to set up a workspace that supports serious making, how to bring more intention and meaning to the work itself. If you're asking yourself what to make next, or why, that's a good place to start a conversation.
Ways to work together
Online — one to one 30-minute sessions via video call. Between sessions you can send Ross footage of work in progress — a bend that's not behaving, a mould you're not sure about, a design decision you're wrestling with — and he'll respond with a short video before you meet again. AU$75 per session.
Online — small group Occasional synchronous sessions for small groups of makers working on related problems or projects. These suit study groups, graduates wanting structured peer review, or makers who'd benefit from hearing how others approach similar challenges. Priced per person — get in touch to discuss.
In person — at Moonlite Studios A day working together in the studio at Mount Egerton in the Central Victoria. Suited to makers who want hands-on time with equipment, materials, and processes. Pricing on application.
In person — at your studio Ross is available to travel to your studio for focussed working days. Useful if you want eyes on your own setup, your timber stock, your jigs and forms. AU$500 per day plus travel costs. Get in touch to discuss logistics.
Who this suits
You're probably a good fit if you're a mid-career maker moving seriously toward furniture, or a committed hobbyist who's past the beginner stage and wants to work with more intention. You don't need to have a specific problem to bring — though it helps to have work in progress.
This isn't a course. There are no modules, no assessments, no certificates. It's a conversation between makers.
Classes and short courses
If you're looking for a more structured introduction, Ross runs at least one bending-focused class each year at Moonlite Studios, and teaches periodically at other institutions around Australia. He offers a range of intensive programs focussing on particular sets of skills and ways of approaching making. These are a good starting point if you want a concentrated experience.
See upcoming classes →
Rate and booking
Online one-to-one sessions are AU$75 for 30 minutes, invoiced after each call. For all other enquiries, use the contact form or book a free 15-minute call to talk through what would suit you best.
About Ross
Ross Annels has been making and teaching for over 25 years, across Australia, and internationally — including teaching at the Qld College of Art, the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship, Sturt School for Wood and the JamFactory. Bent form has been central to his practice for most of that time, across sculptural furniture, installation, and commission work.
Ross works with a small number of mentoring clients at a time. That's deliberate.
Moonlite Studios is on Wadawurrung Country in Central Victoria.