Recent Visit to Eden Project

When ever I go on holiday I always have at hand my camera. Taking pictures for me is a two fold process. 1/ A record can be kept of where I have been and family memories, taking pictures of interesting objects helps with future ideas. 2/ By using a camera I have found that I really have to observe what is around me and as such can train myself to see things thatI did not.

Here are some pictures taken from my visit. The first pictures are of a sculpture made entirely from discarded rubbish/junk. For me it respresents the monstor that we ourselves create and inflict on our planet. It also is a fine example of how powerful statements can be created by using objects that we would not normally perhaps think about incorporating in our work.

Note the discarded computer mice used for the teath. Taking time to have a look to see what other items have been used is interesting and has given me a few ideas.

The remaining pictures are items that I found interesting with regards to form, texture and colour.

Visit to Ireland

The trip to Ireland in March of next year has I am very pleased to say been confirmed. Two days of demonstrations with the Gorey Chapter at their symposium on the Saturday and Sunday. I have been asked to take a master class on the Sunday which will involve texturing and colouring showing some of the techniques that I use in order to show how work can be developed further.

An exciting time and I am looking forward to the experience.

New horizons

Well I had some fantastic news today, in fact two fantastic things happened.

As you will be well aware I am now sponsored by Crown Tools. This and my situation is rather surreal as I started using Crown Tools when I started turning nearly twelve years ago and have used them as my prefered tools ever since.

So when I was asked to be sponsored by them then it was an easy choice as I have used the tools for an extended period and knew they are quality wihout the over inflated price.

So being sponsored by Crown Tools was a wonderul opportunity.

Today I was asked by Crown Tools to accompany them to the AAW Symposium in St Paul, Minnesota, USA, to demonstrate the new Revolution hollowing and other tools.

I never dreamed in a million years that such a prestigious company such as Crown Tools would invite me to go to America with them, not only this but to go to the AAW symposium, the mecca of woodturning, to say I am happy would be an understatment.

To top this I was also contacted today and invited to be the guest demonstrator at the Gorey Symposium in Ireland next year.

A beautiful country that I have always wanted but never managed to visit. This will be another amazing experience and a chance to meet many more woodturners and to make some more freinds across the world.

I have to say that I do not like to blow my own trumpet but four years ago when I decided to take up turning full time I never thought it would take me to other countries. So on this occassion I wanted to share it with you.

So if all goes well I will hope to meet up with some of you there.

The pictures shown are some that I have taken recently with my new camera.

So feeling a bit over it I thought the moon was a good choice.

Revolution 5/8th shaft now available

The Revolution hollowing system now has a 5/8th shaft version that will allow for deeper hollowing.

The 1/2 inch 13 mm shaft will allow hollowing to a depth of 6 inches (150 mm) where as the 5/8th (16 mm) will allow deeper hollowing to 10 inches (250 mm). Although these depths are dependant upon the users skill, deeper depths can be obtained.

The new shaft can be view/purchased from my web site here.

New videos are in hand to show the tool being used covering specifics. However at the moment I am chasing my tail more often than I would like to be, so please be patient.

But if you have any questions you can always contact me via my web site.

Camera

Recently I had need to purchase a new camera for my work.

I often spend many hours just snapping away at various subjects that I find interesting.

The camera I have has a 35x optical and 140 x digital zoom, and while a digital zoom does some what pixelate the image there can be benefits in using it.

So I though I would have a go at capturing the moon. The textures and shapes will have been seen before in many a book but still intesting to me none the less.

Latest Piece

This is a prototype/marquette for pieces that I have had in my sketch book for some time now.

Wanting to continue with my current theme I decided to scorch the main form to bring out the grain and to add bamboo which has been tied with copper wire.

The base is not the final material and on future pieces be altered for stone.

Numerous other forms/ideas based on this are being produced some of which will be for the Arts Trail that I am taking part in ast the end of May.

There were various problem photographing this piece but I have managed to get a resasonable result.

The next one will probably be much taller. and some will be squater and wider.

Here is a close up of the top detail.

Woodbury Woodturners

Sunday was back down to Devon for another full day demo at Woodbury Woodturners.

The club is very friendly and it is enjoyable to attend as there is a wide range of skilled turners .

Some members also attended from the Axminster club from the day before. So I had prepared a few different projects to keep the interest.

Thank you to Keith West for taking and kindly allowing me to use these photo's. All copyright for the photos in this thread remain that of Keith West.

The day started with a wide rim textured and scorched bowl. I enjoy making these as they can be made in a multitude of variants by altering the texture and adding colour.





Followed by coffee and biscuits and a time to chat to members.

The next project covered was a small version of one of my garden sculptures. This seems to go down well when ever I demonstrate it possibly as it is slightly more unusual.

Hoping not to set off the smoke detector.:-)

Lunch was an enjoyable feast of some freshly made pasties from the local butchers. I have to say that normally I am not a huge pasty fan. Probably down to only ever eating the ones you buy from the service station wrapped in cellophane.

But these were to die for and my opinion of this south west food has been greatly changed for the better.

The afternoon was taken up with the demonstration of an offset hole lidded form including colouring and texturing. a variation on the one below. Including gold leaf and colouring to produce an aged metal effect.



Finally I finished up with a stained and verdigris incense burner. Showing a variation of the colouring technique previously demonstrate.




The day I believe was a success and thank you all for your hospitality. There was great exchange of ideas and as always I picked up a few tips along the way. This for me is one of the benefits of meeting so many turners, we all have a slightly different way of doing things and the exchange of ideas is more often than not beneficial.


A few more pics of the day that were kindly taken for me on my camera by one of the members. Thank you.

An enjoyable weekend

Saturday was spent at Axminster Woodturners, Devon for the first of two demonstrations this weekend. Followed by a second full day demo at Woodbury Woodturners Devon.

It was a privileged to be ask to demonstrate at Axminster Woodturners for their 10th anniversary. There are many good turners on the circuit so for me to be ask for this celebration demo was a privilege.

Firstly I want to thank Michael Gent, Chairman and all of the members for a genuinely fantastic and friendly day. The banter was enjoyable and the food was equally welcome. Being the anniversary the members had brought a selection of delicious home made food, I have to say I am probably a few pounds heavier. Especially after the cake, much better than the usual doughnuts that I would munch in my last job I have to say. :-) and there were even olives stuffed with garlic, yumm my fav food.

For a full day demo I generally have 4-5 projects to show. A lot of preparation before the day is needed as I generally make a semi finished item for each project so that I do not have to spend time sanding laboriously, or to spend 20 minutes hollowing that no one can actually see. It is important for me to impart what knowledge I have so that the members can learn and hopefully take away some new ideas.

The processes for each project are explained and practically shown, including discussions about the tools used, and any questions answered. Hopefully if I know the answers that is. :-) . Certainly I do not know them all and I do not think that I have been to a demo where I have not learnt from the members.

The day started with a demonstration of how to make a lidded form.

Part way through the morning a welcome coffee and chat with the members.


The project was then finished and in the time between this and lunch a retro mirror that was recently featured in woodturning magazine was made. No not all 16 spindles were turned just one to show the process the other 15 were turned the day before and coloured, ready to go.


Then lunch and a chance to speak to more of the members. Oh and the view out of the window across the Devon countryside has to be seen.

After lunch it was a textured scorched platter followed by an incense urn with texturing and colour based on the one below.

A great day and it was appreciated the number of members that came up to me personally after the demo to say how much they had enjoyed it.

Thank you all for a very enjoyable day.

And one final thank you to the kind member that took the photographs of me demonstrating.

I will be seeing some of the members from Axminster woodturners on Sunday as they are attending Woodbury Woodturners to watch me again. ! But different projects are at hand to reduce the cross over.


Some pictures of the incense burner being made.











More pics and info to come in relation to the demo at Woodbury woodturners will be updated soon.