For nearly four decades, Eric Mull has transformed raw materials into meaningful works of art. Beginning in 1987, he mastered photography by developing film, printing images by hand, and producing award-winning work for clients nationwide. While searching for wood slabs one afternoon, he discovered handcrafted turned vases and immediately felt drawn to the craft. Determined to learn, he immersed himself in hundreds of instructional hours before joining the Emerald Coast Woodturning Guild, where experienced mentors helped shape his skills and confidence.
The connection between photography and woodturning became obvious to Mull almost immediately. In photography, he carefully transformed rolls of undeveloped film into finished images through patience, precision, and creativity. Woodturning follows that same philosophy, allowing him to take an ordinary log or weathered piece of driftwood and reveal something entirely new.
Unlike commercial photography, where clients often guide the creative direction, woodturning gives Mull complete artistic freedom. Every bowl, vase, and sculpture reflects his own vision, making each finished piece deeply personal.
His dedication extends far beyond the workshop. He recently drove eight hours to Tennessee to salvage a sixty-foot walnut tree scheduled for removal. From that single tree, he has already created more than fifty handcrafted pieces. During another adventure, he discovered a massive driftwood log while photographing families on the beach. Returning the next morning with a chainsaw, he carried sections back through crowds of curious beachgoers, collecting material that now inspires many of his coastal creations. Today, Mull intentionally sources local wood whenever possible, allowing every piece to reflect the beauty, character, and natural history of Florida's Emerald Coast.
Today, Mull owns and operates Eric Mull Photography and Gallery in Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin, where he continues photographing families visiting the Emerald Coast while displaying his fine art photography. Soon, the gallery will evolve into a coastal home store, blending his photography with handcrafted woodturnings that celebrate the area's natural beauty and relaxed coastal lifestyle.
Woodturning entered his life at exactly the right moment. Photography has been his profession and passion since he was eighteen years old, providing purpose, unforgettable experiences, and a successful career spanning nearly four decades. Yet discovering woodturning awakened a completely different side of his creativity.
The process challenges him in new ways. Every log contains hidden grain patterns, natural imperfections, and unexpected beauty waiting to emerge. Each project demands patience, careful observation, and respect for the wood itself. Rather than forcing a design, Mull allows every piece to influence its final shape, creating artwork that feels authentic and one-of-a-kind.
The friendships he has built through the Emerald Coast Woodturning Guild have also become an important part of the journey. Learning directly from experienced craftsmen has accelerated his skills while introducing him to a welcoming community that shares his passion for creating with their hands.
For Mull, photography and woodturning now complement one another perfectly. One preserves fleeting moments through a camera lens; the other transforms nature into lasting works of art. Together they satisfy his lifelong desire to create, explore, and continually learn.
Looking ahead, he hopes visitors will experience both passions under one roof—a gallery where stunning coastal photography hangs beside handcrafted bowls, vessels, and sculptures made from locally sourced wood. Every photograph and every turned piece tells a story, reminding us that beauty often begins as something ordinary before being carefully shaped by vision, patience, and skilled hands. For more information or to contact Eric directly you can do that at www.turningcoastal.com.
"Every piece of wood reveals its story through patience, imagination, and craftsmanship working together beautifully"