Duane Taylor discovered woodworking when he was a high school student in Michigan City, Indiana. He learned how to build boxes, and then spent the next 35 years or so building shelves and anything else that was square. After a near-death illness, Duane began to build toy trucks for kids through his community service club (Kiwanis). About five years ago, he learned about Intarsia and began to build pieces of art from different colors and species of wood. During the past five years he has built over 200 different pieces, ranging from birds to animals to flowers. Today, Duane teaches the ancient art of Intarsia at various woodworking stores and also gives demonstrations for service clubs, woodworking shows and stores. He has been the featured Intarsia artist at the Oregon State Fair since 1999. Duane lives and works in Aloha, Oregon with his wife Sharon. They have four children and six grandchildren, and his studio also is located in Aloha.

Duane is a member of the Guild of Oregon Woodworkers which was founded back in 1982. The membership is about 40% professional. Guild members have a variety of woodworking interests, including furniture design and construction, cabinetmaking, restoration, turning, carving and sculpture. The Guild is supported primarily by membership dues and local sponsors in the wood industry and related businesses.

In conjunction with the Northwest Wood Arts Guild Association (NWWAGA), which the Guild co-founded, they provide a venue for members to sell and exhibit work.