Boxes and Vessels.
“Departure”
“Once and Future Earth” series. Approximately 16” W x 6” H x 12” D. Cherry, maple burl, maple, dye. (Private collection)
This is the last and largest of the five boxes in the “Once and Future Earth” series. The designs of the boxes are different, the uniting factor of the series is the lid panels. All five were cut from a single thick block of spalted maple burl.
“A little attitude”
(open) Approximately 6” Dia. x 5” H. Cherry (heartwood and sapwood). beech twig, mother of pearl cabochons. (Private collection)
(open)
(lid detail)
Jewellery box
Approximately 5” H x 5” Dia. Figured maple, cherry, acrylic ink, paua shell cabochons.
“Vortex”
Approximately 4” H x 4” Dia. Ebonized walnut, maple burl, dye, black mother of pearl cabochon, silver wire. (Private collection)
“Vortex” was turned on five axes: four to create the twisting shape and one for hollowing the interior.
Chopsticks, Holder and Box
Approximately 12” L x 3” Dia. x 5” H. Cherry, figured maple. (Private collection)
“Cosmos”
Approximately 6” H x 3.5” Dia. Poplar, bubinga, texture paint, aluminum. (Private collection.)
“Order and Chaos”
Approximately 7” H x 7” Dia. Maple, ink, acrylic ink, pyrite cabochon. (Private collection)
Approximately 5” H x 5” Dia. Maple burl.
The surface of this vessel is “off the tool”, meaning that it’s the surface left by my turning tools and hasn’t been sanded smooth. I used an oil finish (Liberon) so as not to blunt the subtle texture that resulted.
“Hero”
Small lidded vessel
Approximately 5” Dia. x 5” H. Poplar, ink, paint, shellac, dry pigments, twig. (Private collection)
There are around 20 layers of shellac and pigment on the vessel, both interior and exterior.
“Dreaming of Water”
Approximately 2.5” H x 4.5” Dia. Maple, dye, metallic wax, copper ink. (Private collection)
Approximately 7” L x 5” W x 4” H. Cherry, wenge. (Private collection)
The lid pull was cut on the bandsaw from a single block of cherry, then shaped with a belt sander and sandpaper wrapped around small dowels to get into the “feet”.
Cherry and Wenge box
Small lidded vessel
Approximately 4” Dia. x 4” H. Poplar, ink, paint, metallic waxes, hematite cabochon, mosaic opal cabochon. (Collection of the artist)
This was the first time I used metallic wax to get a patinated copper effect. The box was turned from an offcut of poplar; I liked the shape but not the appearance of the plain grain. That made it perfect for trying the wax on: if it came out well I had a possibly salable box, but even if it didn’t I would learn something from it. As it happened, I liked it enough to keep it for myself.
“Mike’s box”
Approximately 15” L x 8” W x 8” D. Cherry, maple burl, wenge, copper wire. (Private collection)
“Magritte’s Day Off”
Approximately 8” W x 8” H x 3” D. Mahogany, maple burl, wenge, walnut, basswood, maple, paint. (Private collection)
“Bride of Frankenbox”
Approximately 7” W x 5” D x 7” H. Various offcuts, copper wire. (Private collection)
“Bride of Frankenbox” is made almost entirely of offcuts from other projects. The only pieces made especially for it are the pointy maple handles, meant to echo Elsa Lanchester’s great hairdo in the classic horror movie “Bride of Frankenstein.”
“Son of Frankenbox”
Approximately 10” H x 6” W x 3” D. Maple burl, maple, walnut, mahogany, manzanita root burl, brass pins, glass dome.
“Water’s edge”
Approximately 8 H x 4” Dia. (vessel) Poplar, ink, metal leaf, acrylic texture medium, shellac, dye, graphite, colored pencil, twigs. (Inspired by Monet’s “Water Lilies”)
“Spring”
Approximately 2,5” H x 5” Dia. Curly maple, dye, metallic ink, acrylic texture medium, acrylic paint.
“Everyone starts somewhere” (my first box)
Approximately 4” L x 2” H x 2” W. Pine. (Collection of the artist.)