Carrying on the theme

Currently I am enjoying the more sculptural work using the lathe as a part process, in this case producing a base form for me to work from. I have been finding more and more recently that I am losing interest in using the lathe for the majority of the work as I am finding it restricts my creative side. Of course I still turn the pure pieces, but as said previously I am moving more and more away from this type of work.

With Sculptural work I prefer the more organic forms that allow the viewer to see what they want without being directed to any real extent, I also like my work to be tactile so that it isn't all about the visual effect. I have noticed on many occasions when selling my work that people spend more time running their fingers over a form than just looking, so I am carrying on with this them.

A great health and safety video

I found this video on YouTube. It is a comprehensive video that describes the correct clothing/safety equipment required by a woodturner.

Note the presenter's eye protection. 

In relation to the various numbers used for the safety standards within the video there are UK equivalents which you will be able to get advice on from the stockist.

Update

The sculpture that I previously posted has progressed further if only slightly. The original design has now gone out of the window but was a good starting point. The problem I have with trying to stick to a design is that it can become contrived when it in fact my mind wants to take a different route.

So I decided to let go and to work on the piece in a organic way by carving and just seeing where it goes. The piece prior to the carving here was placed back on the lathe and turned through another two axis to remove more material in a controlled way to give further base curves and a concave area on the front face.

The rest has been carved using palm gouges which is fairly free and removes the material quickly.

The rest will have to wait as I want to allow the rest to develop slowly. There is a long way to go with  the carving to date being crude and much refining is needed, but until I get to the stage of knowing when to stop the other processes will have to wait.

On a slightly different note, I have been experimenting with computer software for some time as an outside method of investigating creative processes. This I first started to investigate after being introduced to the process by Philip Streeting.

Looking at different ways of working outside of turning helps me to discover new ideas. I have included a few of the computer generated pictures that I have produced which run in line with my interest in photographing the moon and sky.

Computer generated pictures.

Pictures

Today on waking I took some more photographs from my bedroom window. There was a hard frost over night so I decided to take the opportunity to take some more macro pictures of mundane items showing the formation of ice. Some of the pictures so flowers that are decaying and others are of items which I would not have thought of to photograph previously such as a black dustbin bag or the join from the roof of my car to the boot, but the addition of ice totally change my perception of these objects.

Car boot join.

 

Dustbin liner

Bamboo

Decaying Geranium buds that started to shoot after the last hot spell.

Then this afternoon Bethany my 10 yr old daughter wanted to take some pictures, so I gave her various items that I had previously collected for the colours and textures. These are some of the pictures that Bethany took using a tripod and lights while I got on with some other bits and pieces.The only input I have had is setting up the lights and tripod and cropping the pictures for uploading to the blog, the items were layed out and taken by Bethany who loves to get involved with creative hobbies.

There are many more pictures that can be viewed in the Photography pages which can be access on the top right side of the blog. 

Hollowing video no2

This is the second in the hollowing video which has just been uploaded to YouTube. I am enjoying the process as it makes me think about how I teach and get the information across.  Not sure when the next one will be as I have a heavy work load ( which I keep trying to dodge), but time is catching me up so must get back to it. The first of this one has been re-worked as I was not happy with the end section.

Hollowing video

This is the second video I have posted on YouTube. Still not there yet with regards to camera angles etc and may need a second camera as I would like to show some picture in picture shots.

This one shows breifly how I hollow an unseasoned ash form. The videos can be viewed on full screen and have been recorded and uploaded in HD.

Morning Hue

On looking out of my bedroom window this morning I was met by the most amazing colours. So I quickly grabbed my camera and took a few pictures.  These are taken straight as I saw then with no filters, just point and snap. Nature is a wonderful thing.

Videos

Currently I am producing short video clips covering the various tooling used during my turning courses.  Presently I give out detailed course notes but I feel that these lack the visual content needed to trigger and help my students to the full.

The videos will cover all of the key points being raised, these will then be given to the student at the end of the course on either a DVD or via private YouTube access.

This way I can offer the best method of tuition and support after the course. If there are then any queries which are not rectified through the notes or DVD then I am available for contact via the phone to help.   It is important to me that students get what they require from one of my courses and hopefully this will go to fulfil this.

The video at the top of this page is of me roughing out a 9 inch dia cherry bowl, mainly to see the clarity and get use to the high definition function of my new camera, the bowl was turned with only 1 tool, this being a 1/2 inch bowl gouge.