Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Posting will be slow during the holidays......but will be done where possible.
May all of you have a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Andrew

Some more Osolnik

I find this shape to be challenging so I need some practice....

Here are my latest attempts, made from Teak, the tallest is about 300 mm (12") tall

A little bit of Osolnik

 My attempt at the classical Osolnik candlesticks. Made from Acacia and the tallest is about 200 mm (8") high. This form is going to need some practice.....

Taking the process one step further...

Taking the design from last week a step further. Another piece to be taken on holiday I think. I usually take some work and get quite a bit done when away.
The wood is Jacaranda and seems to burn quite crisply.

Progress and other options for vessel enhancement

Further development of the design from last week. This is going to take some time.....maybe for the holidays.

I started applying the pattern at the bottom of the vessel. This how it looks so far.

Here's another design option - it does not have to be a pattern. I found a design I could potentially use from a online wallpaper catalog and have sketched it out on a vessel. I'll let you know how it goes.

Taking last weeks process one step further

To take the process further; I use the intersections of the lines as a guide.

And start the pattern

One of the ways I do curves...

I have been busy trying to finish off a piece but don't have much to show in the way of progress. I therefore thought that I might do something different........
Many of my pieces have curves in the enhancements. Here is one of the ways I achieve this.

 
I use the indexing feature of my lathe and divide the piece into segments (24 in my case). I then divide the height into segments creating a network of " latitude and longitude" lines. Using the intersections of the lines enables me to create endless variations of curves that are smooth and repeatable. The really important part is to ensure that the pencil is on the centreline of the lathe axis.
The end result is something like this:

The pieces shown were turned from Jacaranda some time ago but the time draws near when they need to be completed.
Hope this helps someone!

Little by little

Little by little I get a bit further along the road to completion of this piece. There still a way to go though!
The idea with this piece to make it appear as if it comprises two parts. The inner part is being worked on to differentiate it from the outer shell. Almost like a fruit with some skin peeled off.
The type of wood is unknown to me but I do know that it would take a lot of detail if carved.

Something different this week

I generally turn vessels so therefore my spindle turning skills do not get much practise. I was recently asked to make a knob for somebody's dresser. .

Here is the result though I may make another attempt this week. The colour is not close either....

I also started some work on a previously turned piece. Some work still to go.

Much burning later...

Much burning later and I am left with a piece that just needs some finish.

Made from Karee (Sumach) and stands about 200 mm (8") tall.
Turned thin with a heavier base for stability.
The texturing gives it a weave effect that I like. What do you think?

A teaser...

This is a teaser for something I started working on this week. I once read that pyrography was especially effective in creating texture so that's where I headed with this piece.

The idea is not to try and be perfect with the lines but to create minor differences. Needless to say that's rather easy - I still need lots of practice with this!

This past week...

No turning done this week but an emphasis on finishing as I have many items to complete. I'll post a picture of my shelf of items to complete soon...

A vase with a different shape for me. Turned wet - as you can see it has warped giving the piece a sense of asymmetry.
About 160 mm tall - Liquid Amber

A near completed natural edge bowl. About another coat of finish to go but already looking very nice.
Made from Indian Mahogany.

Trying for a new effect....

I am always trying out new techniques that I could potentially add to my bag of tricks.

The wood is River Bush Willow (Vaderlandswilg) which has a greeny/yellow look - not very attractive to my eye, hence the attempt at some colour treatment. We do not have much in the line of bleach (for paint effects) here in South Africa and I am trying a similar effect using pva paint. I do not think that the finished article will be so white as here in the pic but will post the finished article later. Comments on the affect, like/dislike will be appreciated and welcomed.

The last of the Indian Mahogany

Indian Mahogany, about 230 mm high. the vessel has warped as bit as I turned it, adding to the uniqueness!

All of the latest Indian Mahogany seemed to have quite a coarse grain but with some lovely interplay beteen sap and heartwood. The trick is to see if I can take advantage of it.

.

Some more Indian Mahogany

Indian Mahogany, turned with the end grain parallel to axis, about 200 mm tall.

 A different shape for me but it's good to push boundaries. The pencil markings are for some further design to come. It's about 200 mm tall as well.

Some formal pictures of items completed...

It's a bit image heavy this week. We had our yearly exhibition last week and items were properly completed. Here's are some better pictures taken in the light tent.

 Some small hollow forms - the nearest one is from Olive

More small hollow forms - the nearest one is from River Bush Willow

And yet more small hollow forms. The nearest one is from Silky Oak and the rest from Indian Mahogany.

The whole gallery - the tallest is 80 mm

A natural edge that I started while demoing last week at the exhibition. the turning is completed - just sanding and finish to be applied. Made from Indian Mahogany

Images from yearly exhibition

Some colourful pieces on the show by Carel Van der Merwe. I really like the fact that the grain can still be seen.

 A series of calabash type vessels by At Smit.










 

Some vessels that caught the eye - The large one is from Indian Mahogany I think

Strawberry swirl #3

I am still working my way through the Indian Mahogany in my wood pile.
Next week I'll report on our yearly exhibition here in Pretoria. If you're in the vicinity see my links for further details.

Another small hollow form (I really love the challenge) About 120 mm dia with a coat of sanding sealer.

A natural edge hollowform for a change

A natural edge hollowform - something that I do not do often. I am not sure what wood it is but was told that ot is some form of Acacia. Still some finishing touches to do though........

Some woodturning related ideas...

Marketing your product, is said to be equally inportant as the creative process itself so I have been throwing some ideas around on how to expand visibility (and sales) of my work.
One of the ideas I had was to create a print of my portfolio that I could give to prospective buyers.
What do you think?

Current work

I think this is some kind of Acacia - given to me by a fellow woodturner. Still in process as can be seen - about 70% done I think.

Strawberry swirl #2

Another small form made from Indian Mahogany. The contrast between the sapwood and heartwood reminds me of a strawberry parfait. No finish applied yet just some Woodoc penetrating wax.
Otherwise spending time sanding some older pieces - watch this space!

Progress this week

Another piece of the strawberry swirl. Piece made from Indian Mahogany about 100 mm (4") dia. Just a coat of sanding sealer on it.

A natural edge piece for a change - made from some kind of Acaia I think. The colouring of this piece has great potential but it does not show in this picture. About 200 mm (8") dia. Still to be sanded and finished.

Strawberry Swirl!

Vase made from Indian Mahogany just off the lathe. Minimal sanding done. About 300 mm (12") tall. I think I made the base too small - it's a bit tippy. What do you think? Feel free to drop me a line

Variations on Silky Oak #2

The last of the silky oak. The tallest is 210 mm (8 1/4 ") Finished without any surface enhancement. The vessel had cracked so I followed the grain markings to create the cutout.

Variations on Silky Oak #1

I am really trying to complete some pieces.
Here are some pieces made from Silky Oak. The largest is about 200 mm (8") dia. Note how the openings get larger as the diameter increases.Group shots seem to add more than a separate image per piece. What's your opinion of this?

Old pieces completed...

Life has just been too busy and therefore no post last week.

A vase where I have experimented with colour. Made from Jacaranda and about 185 mm (7") tall.

 See earlier posts for more detail. Needless to say it was turned from some very dry and cracked Boekenhout. I filled the cracks with brass filings and superglue. The dark part was textured with a blunt point on an engraver.

Some more Liquid Amber...

Some more Liquid Amber. About 120 mm Dia. It's still very wet but turned thin. A different shape for me - does it work?

A start on a new piece

I have just started this piece and am currently still hollowing. Made from Liquid Amber which is still very wet. It's about 200 dia.

One finished and another turned

This piece is virtually finished - just a coat or 2 more of finish needed. By looking at some of the older posts the journey can be seen step by step. More formal pictures will be posted in the gallery at a later stage.

Just off the lathe this evening. Made from Jacaranda found in Irene, about 100 mm diameter.

Nearing the end of this piece....

The area between the diamonds have now been smoothed with a diamond burr and therefore the texturing can begin.

The texturing has been started but still a couple of hours to go. I am using a engraver with a blunt point to achieve this texture.

Another piece I'm working on. Turned dry and with cracks. The cracks have been filled with brass filings and superglue. Makes a nice contrast I think.

The next step....

Some carving with the Dremel this week. I start off by outlining with a small round burr and then remove the bulk with a bigger round burr. The next step will be to neaten off with diamond burrs.Tell me what you think!

Completed the burning and did some repairs....

I finished burning the diamonds today - now to start the next step.......

Some repairs done with filling the cracks in the hollow form posted last week with brass filings and superglue.