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.

Textured vase

The photo sequence below shows the stages of making the hollowed, textured and coloured vases that I have been working on recently.

I begin with an ash log straight from the tree, still wet.

Rough out to remove the bark and cut a spigot for the chuck.

Shape the outside and drill a hole through the centre.

 Hollow out the centre, sand the inside and outside.

 Scorch the outside.

Brush away the soot to reveal the grain of the wood.

This one was coloured with green acrylic wood dye before sealing with sanding sealer.

 Rub liming wax into the grain.

Remove the excess liming wax with finishing oil.

 Take off the chuck and finish the base.

The completed vase, finished with a coat of wax.

Shaping the back of a bowl

My second attempt! Getting the hang of the editing process now and uploading onto Youtube / sharing to my blog. This is practise before working with other members of my club to produce some short videos to make available to all club members.

Inside of bowl final cuts

I've been having a go at making a video! This is my first attempt! A bit of a learning curve!