Other than the workshop upgrade I have been teaching, writing, demonstrating and in my spare time of running the home and ferrying my daughters around,!! making for galleries and commissions pictures of which I will try my hardest to post some time in the future, don't know when exactly as work load has made me look at prioritizing which until recently has mainly included doing what I want to do and not what has to be done. After all life is too short to go rushing around with work. !! mind you I think of what I do as playing and not work at all, I am very lucky I guess.
A recurring theme in any creative pursuit is stagnation for which I have come to realise is the flow of the process, fortunately I am able to produce many items people want and after a blast of production turning, the cobwebs are blown free and my brain starts working back toward creative ideas.
Work load has continued to take large steps upward to the extent now that I am seriously considering cutting back on demonstrations for 2015 and onward other than wood working shows and a few near by. Mainly I have had enough of driving around the country late into the night, missing time with my family and neglecting making in the day due to the preparation time required. Commissions and interest in my work means that time has to be prioritized towards making and less driving around the country.
Teaching is something I greatly enjoy, hence the reason for taking time out to re-organise my workshop. More work is in the pipeline for this including extended storage space to free upwork area for me to upgrade my second lathe so that teaching of two people is more accessible.
Teaching
Recently Bert attended a days course on hollow form turning as a Christmas present. Bert I have known for some years now as we are both members of the Burnham-on-Sea woodturning club, with Bert attending several courses I have previously run with George Foweraker. The theme for the day was to look at the tools and processes for turning a hollow form in seasoned Oak with a steep undercut.
The day was very enjoyable and a success with Bert achieving his aim producing a lovely form is seasoned oak. I look forward to meeting up again in the near future Bert.
Second but by no mean least was Adam who runs his own business but on the side loves to turn. Adam attended after a days tuition was purchased for him as a gift. Again the theme for the day was hollowing but on this occasion Adam wanted to look at utilizing unseasoned wood to produce a deep open form. The full process from wood selection, form to turning tools and techniques were covered with Adam producing a great form and having an enjoyable day.
Running courses with George Foweraker at his excellently equipped workshop are popular and being extended to include more themes for this year and 2015.
My book is a great success, the numbers sold has surprised me and the excellent positive feedback received has been great.
Photography for textures, shape and form is still a big interest, a few of the latest pictures I have taken are shown below.
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