Bowl form feedback requested please

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

Keith Tompkins

>Hi David, super piece. I think to have a foot or not is up to you.....just experiment to see what style you like better. very impressive! Keith

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Hi David

This is a very nice piece, and I really get a kick out of translating your English to our English (fork vs crotch, etc). ;-) If I were to do anything different, I think I would make the foot just a little bit shorter, but that is a subjective thing. Overall very good!

Bill

Nice job

Ellis Walentine

>I'm not much of an authority on form, but I know what I like. Your bowl looks expertly turned and delightfully figured.

I am not a fan of feet on a bowl, though. To me, a foot just sort of roots a piece to the table, rather than allowing it to just sit delicately there.

That said, I've turned feet on lots of bowls and sometimes they seem pleasing enough to me. I guess I'm equivocating because I don't have the confidence of my personal convictions. I let each piece speak for itself.

Ellis

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

John Lucas

>David

Very good. I like the bowls to look like they are floating. I think this is done with a smaller foot and the curve of the bowl keeps flowing through the foot.

However. I've made several bowls similar in design to yours and even though the shape of the foot sort of anchors the bowl or makes it look like it's coming out of the table, I like the gentle S curve. S curves can easily be done incorrectly. Yours has a good feel because of the proportions and the smoothness of the curves.

Those are abviously just my thoughts. You've done well. I look at every bowl I've made and see how I could improve on it. I can see how you can spend a lifetime working on the perfect form.

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

Chuck Ludwigsen

>I like the piece, David. And bear with me as I try to work on the quality of my critiques.

I think the height of the foot would work if it didn't turn straight down. Maybe if it kept curving to a bit smaller diameter. I think that is what my Magnolia vase needed too, or to curve inward instead of flaring out.

If the foot were half as tall it would work too, as long as the curve into the foot didn't end in a vertical line.

Now with respect to the inside, help my vision here. Comparing the first and 2nd pics seems to show that the inside bottom is flat instead of a continuous shallow curve bowl. With the taller foot like this, maybe consider continuing the inside curve into the foot. Not matching the profile of the outside (foot), but a rounded "floor".

Man, I'm really struggling for the right terms here, sorry. I have seen this in Raffan's book, "Turned Bowl Design". Picture a U shape sitting in side a form with the foot of the form extending slightly higher than the bottom edge of the U.

Wally, Bill, Terry, anybody, if you can help with this description please do.

Now, all that said, I like the bowl. I also liked the "planned" or "un-planned" orientation. It kind of encompasses the wood's "life".

Hope this helps. Keep letting us see more of your work. I learn from everything I see.

Chuck in Memphis, TN.

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

RonZ

>I really like the bowl David. Some of my better pieces has come when the wood takes control of my turning. =o)

As far as the foot is concerned, what I personally see in this bowl is a narrow foot the same height that you have now. Ray Key has many bowls like this and I think it would fit this wood pattern. If you kept the same width that you have, a shorter beaded foot would look nice, too. Again, the above is only my opinion

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Thanks Keith, the great thing about experimenting is it�s fun too! :o) I�d gone away from foots on bowls recently, and going back to one was interesting and got me thinking.

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi Bill, thanks for your input. I think slightly shorter could be the way to go. I am very reluctant to remount it now though.. I fear it could end in tears :o) I shall bear it in mind for the next one this shape though.

The English-English translation is amusing I agree. The other one I have noticed is Burr/Burl. As I�m happy with using imperial/metric I have no problems quoting sizes in inches either. What units I use depends what I�m doing and what scale it is.

Thanks again

David

Re: Nice job

David Eaves

>Hi Ellis, thank you dunno about expertly.. I�m still very much a novice with a lot to learn.

I�d been going away from foots, as you say I do quite like bowls to sit there almost

Hovering. This piece decided it was having a foot! I think your right though there are no hard and fast rules, it all depends on the particular piece.

Cheers

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi John,

Thanks for your thoughts they are very helpful, I think as you say the foot needs to be slightly smaller. Looking at each piece after turning as you say is an important part of improving. Completely agree the perfect form is almost a lifetime target. I think I will leave this one how it is. It�s good to look across my bowls right back to my first one to see how my form has come on. Going back to foots is interesting too.

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi Chuck, I think your critique is very good. Expressing what we mean in just words is quite tricky.

I think your point about the foot is interesting, I was just visualising that. I think I�ll try that on the next one like this. As you and others have mentioned a shorter foot would probably be good too. Definitely agree with not ending vertically, I don�t think that would look right.

With the inside, although it doesn�t look like it in the photo it is actually a continuous curve, across the base. It does look flat in the photo. I did actually just check this with a straight edge on the bowl. I�m just thinking of how to capture the profile in a non-destructive way. I don�t fancy the Raffan cut it in half method on this :o) As interesting as it would be.

Thanks again for your input, and as you say seeing other peoples work and thinking about it really helps with the learning process.

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi Ron, I know what you mean the wood often gets it right for me too. Although I have an idea in my mind what I want to do, I usually just see what the wood says to me as I go along.

Thanks for your thoughts on the foot. I hadn�t considered a narrow one. I think that could work really well. I will keep everyone�s thoughts in mind for my next foot.

David

2 things I'd do...

BubbaBob

>...shorten the foot and use thin CA to keep the cracks from destroying the piece. Bowl shape I like, if you shorten the foot...love the wood.

BubbaBob

Something to try on the next one

Bob Hackett

>Instead of making the foot smaller,why not hollow the foot and then carve it into 3 or more "feet".A large or long foot does have a tendency to anchor a piece but if you remove some of the mass from the same shape thru carving the piece will seem to dance when enough stock has been removed(a sure sign it`s time to stop).Funny how these things take on a life of thier own with just alittle help from us.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

Richard Allen

>Hi David

When I first saw this I thought to myself Bob Stockdale. If you look at some of his work you might find some ways to adjust this design. Very slight changes can have a different impact on the viewer.

I like to position myself so that my view of the piece is what I expect the end viewer to have. Often times that is with the bowl sitting on a table I am seated at. At that view what do I see? What impact does the turning have on me?

For your bowl the foot might intrude on the view or it might disapear. I like a bowl to appear stable yet express a lightness and technical conection.

If that tall foot had a waste the effect might be that the bowl appears stable and delicate. It really all depends on the view.

I have "adjusted" the second image to show what I was thinking.

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

Ron Sardo in PA

>I like it. I have a book by Dale Nish and he has quite a few bowls with a foot just like this. But, if I had to label it I would say it has a 60's look to it.

I also have a bowl with a foot like this. I figure I'll leave it on, for now....

I also get a kick with the english/english translations. Cramp/clamp Spigot/tenon

Yes! Maybe even a smaller waist yet.

Al Crandall -Pendleton, IN.-

>This shape, with even more undercut formed by flowing the curve farther into the foot, was what first popped into my mind whin I saw the photo. I was afraid to mention it for fear that I was the only one who liked this style foot.

Re: Something to try on the next one

Brad Vietje

>Hi David,

I like this bowl -- I make a lot of bowls similar to this. I would make the foot smaller (narrower), and you can experiment with a little flare at the very bottom, like Bert Marsh does. In fact, to lift the bowl a bit, you can narrow the "neck" of the foot, leave a little gentle flare at the base, with a narrow undercut about 1/8" or less, at about 45 degrees. That way the foot looks almost like its floating just above the table.

You could always play with "feet" on this bowl, but I would very definately hollow the foot to prevent cracks if you haven't done so already.

Safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT, USA

Re: 2 things I'd do...

David Eaves

>Thanks Bob, I�ll be added some CA over the next few days I think it�s starting to get ideas about moving. Spalted Beech is really nice wood, turns well too. I�ll be looking at maybe modifying the foot.

Thanks for your input

David

Re: Something to try on the next one

David Eaves

>Hi Bob, I hadn�t considered carving some bits out. I like the potential that has. Like you say it�s interesting how the wood does exert it�s character.

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi Richard, I was just looking at some of Bob Stocksdale�s work. I can see why you thought that; he has done some bowls with really tall feet.

Your point about viewing angle is very true, looking at it again it�s only really obvious when you look at it straight on which it won�t usually be looked at that angle.

Thanks for modifying the photo to illustrate your point it works really well. I like what it suggests too, just a small modification has a big impact. I will have to decide whether it is worth risking remounting it to have a go at this. I might just leave it for the next bowl and leave this as a step on the learning curve.

Thanks again

David

Re: Bowl form feedback requested please

David Eaves

>Hi Ron, I�ll have a look out for Dale Nish�s work. Interesting about the 60�s look. I think this foot is probably staying on. I always dread remounting something that is �finished� I fear that it will not come out of the experience in one piece :o)

Cheers

David

Re: Yes! Maybe even a smaller waist yet.

David Eaves

>Hi Al,

I appreciate all input and it�s bound to be subjective, that�s one of the things that is great about it all. I have certainly got many ideas to take to my next creations.

David

Re: Something to try on the next one

David Eaves

>Hi Brad,

Thanks for your thoughts, I�ve got a magazine with a load of Bert Marsh stuff in I will have a shufties at it. I think like you and others have said narrower is a good route to go.

Hopefully the base is okay. It�s got a dovetail in the base, and I domed it when I made it so the wall thickness is pretty much even, especially round the pith.

Thanks

David