It was sunny and 70 degrees today. We’re still in winter, but this weather reminds me more of the late summer days when I first roughed out this bowl from a black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) limb. It was a massive old tree whose hollow trunk had finally snapped in the wind.
I took a few shots as I was making it and put them into the captioned slide show below, beginning with the chunk of limb.
The section of limb from a wind-felled black cherry tree. 
Splitting along the very-off-center pith. I carved the bowl from the thicker, right, side. 
Planing the bottom flat. The growth ring pattern indicates how the fibers on both sides of center rise toward the eventual handles of the bowl. 
Messing around with ideas after shaving the upper surface with a drawknife. These lines are just hand-sketched with no concern for symmetry. 
After cleaning up the surface and drawing the final lines, I hollowed with adze and gouge. The final gouge pattern was done with the thought that I might just leave it like that after drying. But I ended up re-carving the hollow after drying anyway. 
Shaping the exterior with a drawknife. 
Carving the final surface of the hollow after drying. 
Carving the meandering flute through the hollow. 
Large limbs often have tensions within the fibers as a result of holding so much weight out away from the trunk. So I slow the drying with old cotton sheets and check often. With this one, a couple hairline checks appeared on the narrower handle. I just let a little liquid CA glue (super glue) wick in and that prevented any further issue. If you’re having trouble seeing it in the shot above, I’ve pointed them out below.
There are a few more photos of the finished bowl below. It’s 17 1/4″ long, 6″ wide, and 5″ high. SOLD
End and side surfaces are from the gouge and drawknife, respectively.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
Another challenge success with élan.
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Hi David, Happy Spring.
Very interesting shape, I really like it. Hope to find some piece like that to try.
What is the story to the shallow gouge on the inside wall of the short side? Or am I seeing a shadow?
Take care Rick
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Hi Rick. That shallow flute meanders in an S-curve from one end to the other. The idea was that it would complement the curving shape of the bowl itself and add to the sense of movement. Happy spring to you as well. I heard the spring peepers this evening for the first time this year. Pretty early.
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I now “see” the S, very nice “suttle” addition. Another outstanding piece Mr. Fisher.
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I got the S-curve at first glance, it’s a clever and nice addition that complements the shape of the bowl. I’d never have thought of it.
I have a lot of downed cherry trees from a storm last year, I really ought to harvest some before it goes bad.
-Dan
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Dan, that cherry should still be in good shape — even for a couple more years, if the bark is intact. The sapwood will decay, but the heartwood is decay resistant. Good luck.
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That’s one heck of a nice image to hold in my sight until I drift off.
Thanks, Dave. You’ve done it again.
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David, this is another example of your superb work! I really like the incorporation of the curve. I also noticed there is a deeper gouge grove in the bowl, but you answered Rick. It does add to the piece.
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