Although Greg Smentek is not a musician, undoubtedly he can replicate an amazingly authentic French horn and trumpet in wood.

Smentek won the Best in Show award for his French horn in the 19th annual juried show sponsored in January by the Fountain Hills Cultural and Civic Association.

Thousands of pieces of wood and at least 600 hours of labor went into creating the art piece.

The previous year, he won second place for a wood trumpet.

Woodturning, as the artistic technique is known, began with a specific purpose. More recently the intricate and time-consuming skill of inlaid wood items is considered art. Museums, art galleries and craft festivals have embraced the art form.

Like many school-age boys, Smentek studied woodworking in high school. He didn’t get involved in woodturning until 1997 after retiring from a 27-year career as a repairman.

His initial project was a television cabinet, followed by a spiral staircase, cradles for all nine grandchildren and wood pedal hobby horses, toy chests and pedal airplanes.

“There was always something to be made for these kids,” said his wife. “That’s how all this started.”

The self-taught woodturner clips magazine articles for future projects. He scans the Internet for designs that he can incorporate into his projects.

Smentek described the process as cutting segmented wood pieces and layering them “like a jigsaw puzzle.”

“It’s fun for me to figure things out and how to put it together, just to see if I can,” said Smentek.

The inspiration to make a wood trumpet came from a friend who plays in a jazz band.

“I wanted something challenging,” he said, explaining that mathematical calculations come into play in designing the piece.

Designs or varieties of wood come from many sources. He purchased black wood on a trip to Africa, knowing “that I had to make something with it.”

His next undertaking will be a three-foot circular Native American-designed wall hanging for the family room.

Smentek is modest about his talent and reluctantly entered the two art competitions. He has no desire to sell his creations or accept commissioned orders.

“If I’m making it and selling it, it’s no longer going to be a hobby. It becomes a business,” said Smentek.