Some questionable advice

Between hurricanes, for fun I'll nail up some heretical theses (aka my semi-annual rants) for beginners to consider and for others to oppose. :)

***********************************************
  1. Leif suggested "hybrid' as a term for 'not bowls'. I had thought of using a fancier term, "bowle" if the piece can't hold its water.

  1. Nothing shouts "Great craft show-No art museum" louder than excessive attention to decoration and finish of vessel bottoms. They have their rightful place, but what would be your reaction to an engraved rural scene on a Revere bowl bottom? A sculpted marble medallion on David's nether parts? A floral pattern on the flipside of a wedgewood plate? Connected dots behind 'Whistler's Mother"? A toothy grin on a a two faced "Mona Lisa"? Answer: very nice, but not as pretty as a hunting scene done in velvets of primary colors!

  2. A major cause of the catches that morph our pieces from craft into art is the 'waving gouge'. However, fluid tool movements are essential and should be learned from the beginning. Tool movements learned from books are often digital instead of analog and are habits hard to unlearn.

  1. From the beginning, make flats, tapers, coves, beads, fair curves and hollows without much thought and care. Catches and calamity will happen, but if you think form not technique, catches will become seldom. That said, do put the tool on the rest before putting its edge on the wood, and stay on your side of the rest.

  2. It's nice to be able to turn a brickbat into a lovely wooden vessel with thick walls, a wide mouth, straight sides and rough tearouts. Even if they are beloved and sell well to the discriminating non-turning public it isn't a necessary talent for success. Furthermore, it is ok to make narrow openings into hollow forms instead of the more acceptable gluing two hollowed halves together. As for laser guides, vacuum chucks and other rites of passage, don't let anyone here tell you that it's your choice. You must have them.
  3. Five is enough! Hope they helped.

Arch

Fortiter,

formatting link

Reply to
Arch
Loading thread data ...

InspirePoint website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.