cac0fae8c8f092b7d7e32f10d5d4e9c220d2969b My Health Is My Life: Techniques That Make Handmade Turned Wooden Vessels Unique

Techniques That Make Handmade Turned Wooden Vessels Unique

By David Morris


The art of hand turning wood to create bowls, platters, cups, and other containers has been around for thousands of years. Even before the birth of Christ, artisans were using lathes to make receptacles for food and drink. Over the years, the process, techniques, and methods have changed, but the basic premise remains the same. These beautiful works are hard to resist. Almost everyone will stop to admire handmade turned wooden vessels.

The best of the work does not look at all artificial. Talents artisans know the wood is the star. They allow the wood's natural characteristics to dictate the direction and design of the work. Grain has a natural flow, and the craftsmen are careful to take advantage of it in order to create unique and special pieces every time. Most species of timber can be utilized in design. Scarce, endangered, or diseased wood is never used by credible craftsmen.

Spalting occurs when fungus attacks a tree. If it is caught at the right time, artists can capture the interesting lines and colors it causes. Spalting is often found in dead trees, but it is still possible for a craftsman to manipulate the shape. The fungus dies when the moisture in the wood reduces to that found inside most homes. Once that happens, the spalting process stops, and there are no further changes in the wood.

Another type of fungus, called beefsteak, can produce an unusually rich brown. The fungus attaches to the outside of an oak tree and feeds on sapwood. The waste seeps into the tree and mixes with tannin, a natural organic substance. A unique brown coloration is the result.

Another wood characteristic that is commonly seen is created by burrs. These are abnormal growths inside trees that create odd looking lumps on the exterior. If the burrs are cut open, amazing swirl and whorl patterns are found. They may have unique coloring as well. Wood with burrs can be difficult to work with, but the results are usually worth the effort. The edges of pieces can have the bark on or off. Each method creates a completely different effect.

Many consider work with a natural finish to be the most valuable and authentic, while others love to collect painted wooden pieces. Talented artists use acrylic and gesso to create all kinds of colors and subtle designs. Some like to airbrush pieces to give them just a hint of color.

Admirers purchase pieces for as many reasons as artists create them. Some are most interested in the functional aspect of wood bowls, platters, and cups. Others consider them solely artwork to be displayed in cabinets or on shelves and tables. One of the beauties of collecting hand turned wood objects is their versatility.

There is something special and compelling about wood creations. It may be that we associate them with nature, unlike other forms of art. These pieces can also feel less removed from daily life. That may be why they are often handed down from generation to generation.




About the Author:



No comments: