After the relative stillness of winter, everything seems to be in motion now. The spring rains have encouraged the creek to dance to the white-throated sparrow’s tune. Emerging leaves are being introduced to wind. Even when the air is still, they appear to be in flow.
As wood carvers, one of the ways we can create a sense of movement is through texture and the direction of the strokes. On the exterior of this latest bowl, I played around with a new pattern of gouge cuts.
The sinuous boundary continues down and across the foot as it flows between opposite corners. Sort of a yin and yang relationship. The recess inside the foot is carved and milk-painted.
Here’s a notebook sketch as a visual summary of how I went about it:
Another viewpoint, from the side…
…and from above.
This bowl is available for purchase. It is 10 3/4″ long, 7 1/4″ wide, and just a smidge under 3″ high. Black cherry. SOLD
I’ll finish this post with some more spring leaves on the move.
Young quaking aspen leaves — and a white-throated sparrow nearby.
David Fisher, Carving Explorations 
another hit on the it parade
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David,
What a wonder seasonal change can be.
The bowl is beautiful, but I especially like the foot carving with the paint, which really enhances the scene.
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I would like to purchase the bowl. Everett ZackSent from my iPhone
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Lovely biowl 🥣. Thanks for sharing your design approach too 🙂 .
I notice an imperfection on the rim, which just adds to it 🙂 – is that
what the Japanese call wabisabi (the beauty of imperfection?)?
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Thanks! Yes, I suppose that natural sap pocket (a common characteristic in black cherry) could be an aspect of wabi sabi. My understanding of wabi sabi is certainly limited, but “blemishes” in natural materials can contribute to it.
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I love the result of putting the texture of the carving to the work of flow. I found it pleasing before I understood what was going on. Thanks.
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Another beautiful work of art, David. Thank you for sharing what you created but also your thoughts about what went into the design and how to carve the work. You remain an inspiration and you are an artist not only in wood but also with words.
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The harmony! So serene and uplifting.
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Beautiful bowl, I love the pattern of the gouge marks!
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