Yandles show

I was one of the demonstrators at my club's stand, Martock and District Woodturners, at Yandles show in April. Here is a short clip showing me hollowing a vase.

More metallic effects

I've finally got hold of the Modern Masters reactive metallic paints. Here are the first vases I have made using this effect.
I've also refined the form slightly, with a wider opening and the base curve starting from further up the vessel.

Bronze reactive metallic paint with blue oxidation.

This is the other side of the same vase. I swirled the bronze paint when I applied the second coat then sprayed the oxidation liquid on top to create an effect of random tarnishing.

Copper reactive metallic paint with green oxidation effect.

The other side of the same vase. Like the previous vase, the oxidation liquid was sprayed on randomly to create the effect of natural tarnishing.

Today's student - Karen

Karen is a friend and ex-colleague who came over for the day to turn a bowl. Unsurprisingly, Karen took to it like a duck to water and made a great ash bowl!

Turning the inside.

Showing good tool control!

The inside completed. It feels lovely and smooth! It is finished with sanding sealer and microcrystalline wax which shows up the fantastic grain.

From this piece of wood came a lovely bowl!

Experimenting with hollowed vases

In the last few weeks I have been experimenting with the form and colouring effects. These vases have rounded bases and have been finished with metallic bronze paint and verdigris wax to try and give a weathered effect.

Slightly scorched to open the grain but the pith on the base scorched too much leaving a hole.

Brushed to open the grain. This wasn't very effective. Black ebonising lacquer was used before the bronze paint, having the effect of filling the grain again! When the excess verdigris wax was removed, most of it just rubbed off leaving a shiny finish. However, it does sit at an interesting angle!

Brushed aggressively to open the grain. Black acrylic wood dye then bronze paint. The verdigris wax stayed in the grain more effectively but (not shown here) when the excess was rubbed off, "rub lines" appeared towards the top of the vase. That would have worked if they were random but unfortunately formed a regular pattern round the vase. The base is nicely rounded. The foot was removed and the base rounded by holding the top of the vase on gripper jaws in expansion mode, protected with self adhesive neoprene.

December turnings

Here are a few turnings from earlier in December:

My latest development of vases inspired by Marcel van Berkel's demonstration at the AWGB seminar. The shape is more like the scorched vases I have been making recently. Ribs cut on the inside, a grinder to cut scallops on the outside, lightly scorched then coloured with red and black acrylic wood dye. This time I cut the scallops further into the rim creating a lighter look.

Another view showing the rim more clearly and the inside which was painted with blackboard paint to give a matt black appearance.

A commission: an oak bowl on a pedestal which will be used to display turned wooden fruit. Finished with oil and renaissance wax. I already had a suitable oak bowl which had been rough turned and dried but I didn't have anything suitable for the base. Luckily the wood I bought was a good match!

This view shows the foot a bit more clearly.

This vase was scorched, the grain brushed out and painted with bronze metallic paint. Verdigris wax was rubbed into the grain: when the excess was removed it took off some of the brass paint, giving the effect of ageing or tarnishing.

Inspired by Marcel van Berkel!

My favourite demo at the seminar in August was seeing Marcel van Berkel make one of his carved vases. I really like his work and jumped at the chance to see his demonstration when I realised he had one slot on the programme. I particularly like his heavily carved vases and I have finally I got round to having a go myself! I made most of this at my club's hands on session on Saturday (Martock and District Woodturners); I shaped the outside and drilled the central hole beforehand so I would have plenty of time for hollowing and texturing.

I hollowed the vase, cut beads on the inside then used a grinder to remove much of the wood on the outside in a scallop pattern. I then scorched, brushed and coloured it using red wood dye with black highlights.

At home I parted off the vase, tidied the base then oiled the outside and painted the inside with blackboard paint (matt black).

Marcel van Berkel demonstrating his vase at the AWGB seminar in August. Here he is hollowing out the inside.

 Beads cut on the inside.

 Using a grinder to cut the scallop pattern.

 Ready for light scorching.

 Airbrushed, blue with white highlights.

Artistic Woodturning Exhibition

There will be an exhibition featuring the very best artistic woodturning at the Town Hall, Trowbridge from September 12th to October 10th 2015.

Seventy of the best pieces were selected from the Instant Gallery at the AWGB Seminar in Loughborough, including work from internationally renowned and top UK turners.

Imagine my surprise when I found out that one of my turnings had been chosen! This was the morning after the formal critique of a selection of exhibits carried out by Nick Agar and Ashley Harwood. My heart sank when I realised that my three vases were on the table, ready to be critiqued in front of 200 people! The other three people I was with over the weekend also had items chosen for the critique and I must say that both Nick and Ashley (and Ray Key when asked to comment) were very positive and encouraging!

Here are the three vases I exhibited; all have been hollowed, scorched and the grain enhanced with a contrasting colour. The vase with the gilt cream enhancement will be in the exhibition in Trowbridge.

Vase with gilt cream enhancement

Vase with liming wax enhancement

Vase with verdigris wax enhancement