Mike Clarkson worked in several cabinet shops in Baltimore in his late teens and early twenties and it never quite felt right. He wanted to experience woodworking, not just do woodworking. During these early years of his woodworking career, he stumbled upon a book by the Taunton Press book which had an article on “Green Woodworking.” Inspired, he took a class under the late John (Jennie) Alexandra and Peter Follansbee on how to make a stool from a tree. The process taught green woodworking in accordance with 17th century New England practice. This experience left an indelible impression on him and in 1998 he interned at the Country Workshops in North Carolina. Since then, he has attended more classes and taught at Living Classrooms in Baltimore as a woodworking instructor. Mike lives in Northern Maryland where he makes custom pieces, mostly seating furniture.