I have a bowl I am working on that is to the hand sanding stage. I have been pondering this bowl a bit and I was hoping that you could help me decide what to do.
The drawing in black represents the current shape. The drawing in red represents a change to that shape I am considering. At this point about all I can do is remove material and finish sanding it all smooth. If anyone has a preference for one shape or the other I sure would like to hear about that.
>Richard, it seems to me that the red bowl would be out of balance, both in it's appearance and perhaps physically. It's a little hard to tell without actually seeing the piece.
>I prefer the original design; it looks more balanced in an "off-balanced" sort of way. Removing the "7-o-clock" corner so that the horizonal plate smoothly merges with the bowl just doesn't seem right. If you feel that you must play with that corner, may I suggest making the plate appear that it didn't cut completely through the bowl (see below). Merely suggestions with which I am not totally confident.
The bowl is turned so moving it within the square is no longer an option. The bowl is fairly thin so I doubt the bowl will fall over. If it does that would lead to another design option of removing the foot (which can be done) or adding a support in the corner (which would lead to several other design oportunities).
I guess I should have taken some pictures. I will, almost certinaly, finsh the piece this evening (so many projects so little time).
Mostly I was interested if the effect of a bowl within a plane was more interesting than a bowl entering a plane.
>The majority of us and the general public will see the change as mostly from a black to a red bowl. Further work might be risky without enough or any improvement and may not be labor effective.
I do understand and applaud your willingness to take risks in reaching for excellence in your sight and in the eye of fellow turners and some collectors. Sort of what is the best you can do vs what is practical. From that prospect, I agree with Wally.
Suggestions for improvement are desirable and valuable. Even when asked for, it's difficult to offer advice to a superior turner or suggest that imperfection can be ok. Arch
I like the first option you provide. Though the process would be a lot more involved that the tangent.
Option two strikes me totaly different. If you rotate the second one 45 degrees to the left it looks like a face with a nurse hat. That could be an interesting design for a platter and I may have to try that.
Option three doesn't do much for me. But it gets me thinking of the next one and making the "square" part buldge as thought the bowl is intruding on the square.
Right now the desire for input is focused on my interaction with the wood and the shape. I know I should think beyond the creation process but I haven't progressed to that level yet.
I assume that you mean "balance" as a pleasing shape. I think it's importance lies in how well it fulfils its purpose. Certain forms please the viewer, but no matter how many golden rectangles, fair curves, Grecian urns and delicate this and thats you turn, if a salad bowl can't stand upright and contain lettuce it's not important. Even if your turning's form does fulfil its purpose,if the viewer perceives it as not, it becomes less important. Ex: the Nova3000 tailstock. Excepting severe overloading it serves its designed function ok. Its slender tall shape and small base isn't what we expect of a proper tailstock, and thus it is not pleasing to most. (technatool changed it on the DVR)
By now, everyone is sighing "why didn't he just shut up and quote the obvious?
>HI Richard, I like the first bowl. It has an imbalance that suggests that the bowl wants to move toward the center. I think this effect suggests movement.
The second bowl suggests the bowl is firmly anchored to the corner, the effect of movement is lost.
That is my reaction....I am curious about your creative thought process....what lead you to this design? I think there are some neat possiblilties.
