Finial/NoFinial?

Re: You ask 5 woodturners

George Guadiane

I started out asking ONE turner (me) and got three different answers. And none of them were where I ended up.

By putting my quandary out to people I respect, people who see things differently, it became clear to me what I wanted to do.

Remember, I asked a basic "this or that" question and what I got back was NOT just "this or that" it was a lot of "and here's why." THAT was the part that I needed to clarify my own thinking.

And as to sourcing more than one site, not everyone is like us, trolling multiple sites (I really only look at these three regularly). In fact, some of the best information and opinion was an aggregate from those people who DON'T seem to wander from their home sites.

So, for me, contrarily from your assertion, this ended up giving me exactly what I needed, an "ah ha" that gave me a clear and artistically satisfying resolution.

Gosh, sorry to ruffle feathers

Dick Coers

I'm just more of an experimenting kind of guy I guess. I didn't have any kind of agenda, just noticed something I don't see often, when you posted the question all around.

Re: Gosh, sorry to ruffle feathers

George Guadiane

Couple of things:

A lot of people post the same thing on multiple sites. MAYBE they don't all ask questions, maybe they just show off or maybe this particular project got a lot of attention because it is, in fact a pretty impressive piece of wood and they, like me don't want to see it ruined.

I'm an experimental kind of guy myself. When I get nervous or stuck - which doesn't happen that often, I ask for help.

Sheesh, I get it. How can you ruin it with finial?

Re: Sheesh, I get it. How can you ruin it with fin

George Guadiane

Your question made me laugh out loud...

I ran across this piece in person a while ago. I almost made a new finial for it, this one is so terrible. I've gotten better, and maybe this isn't the perfect example, but I live by this quote:

"Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away" · Whitson Gordon.

In this case, I take it to mean that this may not be improved with a finial.

Re: Finial/NoFinial?

Don Orr

Well I've held off giving my opinion waiting to see what others said. My initial take on the question for me was that I can't really give an opinion with out seeing the piece both ways-with & without a finial. The height, shape and details of the finial could make or break the overall presentation.The piece easily stands on it's own merit as is-it's spectacular. My question becomes does it NEED anything to be a successful work. I don't think so. Is there anything that might make it even better-possibly. A collar as suggested might be just enough to bring the piece to completion for you. I'm not sure about a finial. Cindy Drozda does them very well and appropriately and is known for it (as you well know). Can you emulate that aesthetic? (Notice I said emulate not copy). I believe proportions and flow would be critical in whatever you do. Does a tall piece need to be taller? Sorry if I'm asking more questions than giving answers. Part of why I have not responded sooner.

Re: Finial/NoFinial?

George Guadiane

Hi Don,

It's tall enough. After listening to a lot of other people smarter than me, I've decided to do a collar and see if it's done. If it STILL looks like it needs something, I'll try a tall finial.

I miss you guys!

Re: My Sincere Thanks To All

mikeee12345

You could take a photo image and load it into a software program and add

some different colors for a collar, top, cap, finial until you come up with the

ideal addition for the piece. You can use a basic Paint program and play around

with colors and shapes.

It's called "Gilding the Lilly"

Keith Newton

Sometimes the simpler the better. I would have liked it better if the blaze in the left photo was the only red.

Which do you prefer, a quiet elegance that slowly seduces you, or something screaming HEY LOOK AT ME!

Re: It's called "Gilding the Lilly"

George Guadiane

Agreed.

I'm down to adding a collar then deciding whether or not to finialize it.

Re: It's called "Gilding the Lilly"

Keith Newton

George, I like the collar idea, but I'd forget about the finial. You can do a quick simulation by folding a piece of paper then drawing an outline that you cut out then open the fold, then stick it in the opening. Leave a long section to hang down inside, to keep it upright. You and lots of others might like it, but I'm in the camp of sometimes less is more.

When I think back, there have been times that I didn't know when to say ok that's it, then spent a lot of time going too far the wrong way.

Re: It's called "Gilding the Lilly"

George Guadiane

As it ends up, I went with your suggestion. I'm finished for now with a simple unimposing rosewood collar.

Re: It's called "Gilding the Lilly"

Don Orr

OK-that'll do nicely!

Looks great to me!