Tag Archives: bowls

Dark Horse

I carved this ale bowl from some more of the red alder I mentioned in my last post.  Then I tried something new for me: I painted (ebonized I suppose) the outside  with waterproof black India ink.  I like how … Continue reading

Posted in ale bowls, bowls, green woodworking, paint, trees, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Roughing It

I’ve been roughing out bowls.  Rather than store logs for long periods in the summer heat, I try to do the green carving and let the roughed bowls dry.  Then they can patiently wait for further carving until I get … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, carving, drying, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

White Oak Bowl — Hollowing with an Adze

When I have demonstrated at festivals, I have noticed several different types of reactions and comments among observers.  By far, the most common reaction is sincere interest and curiosity that elicits good questions from open minds and enjoyable conversation. However, … Continue reading

Posted in adze, bowls, carving, holding, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

New Walnut Bowl

Last week, I spent some time along the Niagara River.  I saw the Falls again (I live only three hours away), and they are still thrilling.  But what I noticed more than ever before were the beautiful trees on my walks … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, patterns, sketch, trees, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

We Shall Not Cease From Exploration

We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time. — T. S. Eliot, “Little Gidding” As one might guess from the … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, Lettering, quotes and excerpts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

New Walnut Bowl

I have finished this fluted walnut bowl. While the flutes are nice, I tried to make the other, more hidden, side of the bowl interesting as well.  I hope it is like a pleasant surprise when somebody picks it up. As can be … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, patterns, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Oh, It’s Drying Time Again…

Hewing a bowl with an axe and an adze certainly qualifies for what David Pye called “the workmanship of risk.”  The risk doesn’t end when the axe is laid down.  Anyone who is going to carve many bowls is sure to have some … Continue reading

Posted in cartoons, carving, drying, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Bottoms Up

It’s time to think about bottoms.  After all, your bowl is going to spend most of it’s life resting on it, and it is an important design consideration.  You can even add some fun designs.  Folks might even smile when they … Continue reading

Posted in bowls, cherry, layout, proportions, sketch, Uncategorized, video | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A Windfall Goose

I found this stylized goose bowl in the curve of a wind-fallen cherry tree.  Usually, we think of “finding” spoons in the crooks of tree branches, but I occasionally find bowls as well. Grain flowing through the form allows for lightness, … Continue reading

Posted in bird bowls, books, finding wood, layout, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Hollowing with an Adze

Following up on my last post about adze design, I wanted to share a series of photos that show the procedure for my adze work.  At the stage of the first photo (above), I’ve hewn and hand planed the upper and … Continue reading

Posted in adze, bowls, holding, layout, Uncategorized, walnut | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments