Musing about timeless design vs current style. 1.618 and all that.

Arch,

I believe there are timeless forms and lines. While I never strive to make a golden mean piece, I simply go for what looks good to me. I find that some the shapes I made several years ago still hold up. Other are no good to me. When I analyze why, it comes down to the classic curves.

I've been turning some vessels the last few days. I have a very nice set of three, except the third one is a slightly different shape. They are really not a set. More striking, however, is that I distinctly like the third one less than the other two and I've already figured out why.

I guess there are two ways to attempt to achieve the great shapes. One is to measure and meticulously copy them using French curves, rulers, graph paper, etc. The other is to keep turning over and over while studying shapes that you like and don't like. I do the latter. My shapes evolve to better shapes as I study, observe and practice more.

Joe Fleming - All the best in 2006

There are forms which always please because of the way we are wired. For example, the Venus USA Swim 2006 catalog arrived here yesterday. I began studying those pleasing, classic forms almost immediately. Apparently they appeal to all, because Susan took it from me, and is apparently reading (and storing) it in a private place....

Joe, Many thanks for your thoughtful response to my 'pry bar'. Any chance of your posting pics of the three vessels so the NG can pontificate on which one they prefer and why? You might be surprised.

George, My Swimsuit catalog also disappeared. :( Today's classy lassies with their streamlined chassis seem to have different curves from those even more fully endowed ones I sneaked in to ogle at the old Trocodero(sp.?) burlesque in Philly. Can't remember if it was on Arch, Race or Vine, but Susan and Lorraine still enforce the same 'blue laws'. :) Surely that gal Venus, had a timeless classic form... or is it all in the age of the beholder? :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Arch,

Since you are a ponderer, (one who ponders) I'll help you out with that burlesque house you mentioned. We always called it the Troc and was located at 10th and Arch Streets. Occasionally, to be obscure, we would refer to it as the "Trenton Royal Opera Company."

Harry (one who is just a tad younger than you.)

Arch... i think that it gets into the visual/touchy-feely area.... some shapes just naturally appeal to us and maybe therefor become classic?

Ever notice that certain shapes (usually a bowl with a rounded, semi-closed profile), always get picked up and admired?

As Bill Grumbine points out in his bowl turning DVD, the most common shapes for turnings copy fruit and other things from nature...

mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Harry, Thanks for the help and for using an "O" instead of an "A" in ponderer, IIRC, there was a Whitman's Candy Co. in the neighborhood and if not obscured as we headed for the Troc, we claimed we were out to buy a box of chocolates. :)

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

Arch,

I post prefinish photos as soon as the third piece is finished with the bleaching.

Joe

If A beer will give you a hangover, maybe you ought to pass! :o)

Oh my! The Burly Cue! That do take me back.

IOW, you will not get it back. But the recycler will pick it off the line!

Saw something on this recently, but can't recall where. Apparently we ARE all wired for the same - or very similar - shapes which appeal.

I find it interesting that the Golden Mean (a ratio of 1.618 to 1) is the same as the aspect ratio of our field of vision without parallax. I guess that means that we like certain things because we can see them clearly.