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

AWGB Seminar, Gallery

Everyone who attends the seminar is invited to display turned items in the instant gallery: presenters, delegates, professionals, amateurs. Here are a few photos from the gallery. Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of several of my favourite pieces; however, photos of all exhibits are here:
http://awgbseminar.co.uk/2015/Loughborough2015INDEX.htm

Joey Richardson

Jason Smith

Cynthia Gibson pyrography

Rod Page

Mark Sanger

Ashley Harwood

Ashley Harwood

Trevor Lucky

Andrew Hall

Peter Thurston

Rod Page

Philip Steel

Phil Irons

Mick Hanbury

Mick Hanbury

Andy Coates

Mark Sanger

Mark Sanger

Mark Sanger

Mark Sanger

AWGB Seminar 2015

I've just come back from a fantastic weekend at the AWGB Seminar in Loughborough. It was full on, loads of excellent demonstrators to watch, a gallery of top quality work and a great atmosphere! Roll on two years time till the next one!

Here are a few photos of some of the demonstrators:

Carlyn Lindsay, UK.
Carlyn uses contrasting coloured veneers to make laminated wood blanks and create contemporary decorated turned items.
http://www.carlynlindsay.co.uk/

Ambrose O'Halloran, Eire.
Ambrose makes bowls and platters enhanced with texturing and scorching.
http://www.cregboy.com/

Michael Gibson, USA.
Michael is famous for making turned and sculpted wooden teapots, bowls and hollow forms.
www.michaelgibsonwoodturner.com

Andrew Hall, UK.
Andrew is famous for his turned and coloured wooden hats. When complete it is hard to imagine they are actually made from wood!
http://www.hallwoodhats.com

Cynthia Gibson, USA.
Cynthia is not a turner but is a pyrography artist. She has collaborated with many of the worlds top woodturners to create works of art.
https://www.cynthiagibsonpyrography.com/

Ashley Harwood, USA.
Ashley creates fine spindle turned ornaments using sea urchins but also wooden bowls with enhancements on the rim and foot.
http://www.ashleyharwood.net/

Marcel van Berkel, The Netherlands.
Marcel specialises in sculptured deep vases, enhanced with deep sculpturing with an arbotec and scorching.
http://www.marcelvanberkel.nl/

Ambrose used a jig to ensure even curves around the bowl.

Andrew used stencils to mark out the nose and cheeks of the Corinthian helmet.

Then cut them out using a Proxxon mini jigsaw.

A blurred photo of the completed mini Corinthian.

An image of Cynthia's sampler.

One of Ashley's bowls showing the side bead detail.

Ashley demonstrated that technique in the presentation.

Marcel's vase after texturing with the arbotec. It was cut using a scallop action. Deep beads were made inside the vase with the Rolly Munro tool before texturing.

The completed vase after scorching, brushing and airbrushing.