Category Archives: layout

A Pair of Walnut Bowls (From a Plank)

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I carved these two walnut bowls from a radially-split piece of fresh black walnut, but the design is well suited to be carved from any 2″ thick plank of wood. Compared to my usual Bowl from a Plank, I guess … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, layout, patterns, plans, sketch, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Just Do the Next Thing

Posted on February 21, 2025 by Dave Fisher

I just finished a hen bowl from black walnut. I’ve made a bunch of these hen/chicken/fowl-inspired bowls over the years. No two of them have been quite the same. Every time I start one I have some uncertainty about how … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, carving, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , | 18 Comments

Finishing the Big Round Walnut Bowl

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Dave Fisher

About a month ago I wrote a post about laying out this walnut bowl to account for the shrinking that would come with drying. Well, I got lucky and it dried pretty close to a circle, but there was still … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, finishing/oiling, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Carving the Hollow: A Trick and Some Video Clips

Posted on November 5, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Sometimes, after you’ve hogged away most of the wood and the hollow is nearing the final shape, your hands and eyes tell you that one end/side of the bowl has a steeper slope than the other. Your hands and eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in adze, carving, holding, layout, tools, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Round Walnut Bowl Layout: Plan for Shrinkage

Posted on October 30, 2024 by Dave Fisher

A wide walnut logs came my way a couple weeks ago, and I’ve been busy roughing out a few things from it. One of them will be a big open round bowl, 18 or 19 inches (46-48cm) in diameter. In … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, green woodworking, layout, tools, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Don’t Forget Your Compass

Posted on July 20, 2024 by Dave Fisher

Only three weeks until I head to Pete Galbert’s for our six-day bowl carving course. Among the various tools we’ll be using, the compass is an important one. I use mine on every bowl I make. It does a lot … Continue reading →

Posted in layout, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Apple Wood Bowl and Leaf Patterns

Posted on July 10, 2024 by Dave Fisher

I roughed this bowl out of a green apple log almost a year ago. It’s just under 5″ end-to-end; you can cradle it in one hand. Next time, I’ll make a bigger one. It will be a lot easier! This … Continue reading →

Posted in bowls, carving, layout, nature, patterns, sketch, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Cherry Chicken

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Dave Fisher

It reminds me of that old joke- you know, a guy walks into a psychiatrist’s office and says, hey doc, my brother’s crazy! He thinks he’s a chicken. Then the doc says, why don’t you turn him in? Then the … Continue reading →

Posted in bird bowls, books, cherry, holding, layout, quotes and excerpts, tools, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Uprooted Ladle

Posted on January 23, 2024 by Dave Fisher

A walk through the woods often makes me stop in my tracks. It may be something as simple as an interesting lichen on a rock or a deer bed. Other times it’s a phenomenal thing like this huge maple uprooted by the … Continue reading →

Posted in finding wood, green woodworking, layout, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Spoon of Indecision

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Dave Fisher

When I find a good crooked branch for a spoon, the best orientation of the bowl and handle is usually pretty clear. The bowl is in the tightest part of the bend and the area to one side or the … Continue reading →

Posted in green woodworking, layout, spoons, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments