I returned home a week ago from the most recent Bowl Exploration class at Peter Galbert Workshops. This was the third time I’ve taught this class and each iteration has seen a change or two. This time around, we carved basswood and we also explored milk paint as an option. All of the students chose to paint their bowls before carving one of two tree designs. Only Lew decided to go au natural.
The basswood worked out well. It’s quite carvable, yet holds detail well. The blanks were consistent with no unwanted surprises inside. Compared to carving dry tulip poplar, we were able to move through the stages with the dry basswood more quickly, leaving enough time for us to explore another form, a squarish little bowl I called an ice-cream bowl.
The bowls represent opportunities to learn and practice skills and concepts that will lead to many more bowls of all sorts after everyone returns home. Still, it’s always good when the class bowls themselves turn out this nice. I was thrilled to see them side by side.
We carved sample boards with various patterns using knife and gouge. When it came to the handles on the long bowls, all of the students but one chose to carve my original tree design. There’s Bix’s in blue.
Dan was the lone carver of the thumbnail tree.
With the long bowl and the sample boards under their belts, it was great to see everyone taking what they had learned and applying it in their own creative ways on their ice cream bowls. Nice corner detail there by George, whose daughter requested a purple bowl.
That orange that Jesse is applying looks pretty bold. But the milk paint dries quickly to a more muted shade, plus there was an undercoat of black beneath.
Jesse sent these photos, above and below, once he had rubbed the bowl down.
There was a lot more where that came from in terms of student work and ideas, but I was only able to get so many photos.
As always, I learned more than anybody and it’s a special thing to be part of a group of people coming together for a week of camaraderie and creating together.
I was also thrilled to catch up a little with some old friends. Peter Lamb, Peter Follansbee, Peter Galbert, and even some others not called Peter.
There won’t be any more photos for me in that shop that will hold good memories. When I return in June, we’ll be in Pete’s new shop which is coming along well. Pete’s vision and tenacity is amazing, and the new workshop is the latest result. Looking forward to it.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
Trying again–neat post–
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Sounds like a fun class.
Loved the show you referenced in the last photos. Especially the series finale where he wakes up from the dream (trying to avoid a spoiler).
How thick was the basswood?
There is one color on the longer bowls that in the photo almost looks natural but is a paint. What color is that?
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Yep, that was a great series finale to Newhart, Joe. Glad you noticed the reference to Larry, Daryl, and Daryl.
The long bowls started with 2x6x21 (inches) basswood. They’re the bowl-from-a-plank design that I’ve written about. The ice cream bowls were 2x6x6 blanks. Another benefit of basswood is the accessibility for just about anyone. Available in chunky pieces commonly, up to 4″ thick, even by mail order.
We used Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company paint. If I recall, the bowl you referenced was painted with “truffle”. Since huge quantities aren’t needed for spoons and bowls, I’d suggest getting one of the OFMPC sample bundle packs. You can pick six colors and get a two ounce packet of each color. One two ounce packet would probably paint at least seven or eight bowls. We mixed it thin — no thicker than whole milk, and strained it through a paint filter.
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Thanks David. If I recall, you did a Fine Woodworking Article on carving a bowl from a plank. I do agree that basswood is easy to find. I can easily get 8 and 12 quarter all day long in various widths at my local lumber stores. This past weekend I was at a local Woodcraft store and they also had a lot of basswood for carving as well. Thanks for the Milk Paint thickness and suggested sample pack idea. Wouldn’t have thought of the sample pack approach.
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Found the articles. It is Fine Woodworking Jan/Feb 2025 pages 62-69 and 76-80. Can’t wait to get to this. My current Bellamy Eagle likely will be done in 3ish months and then onto this. Only real decision is basswood and paint vs. cherry with Tried and True linseed oil. All good problems. Thanks David.
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Carve both, of course!
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