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Hollow Turned Vessels Finding the hidden beauty in natural objects is second nature to me. The carefully turned closed forms, vases and bottles reflect my lifetime love of nature and an innate perception of what beauty may be hidden beneath that seemingly worthless tangle of roots and wood that has washed up on the beach, or lies covered with fallen leaves and debris on the forest floor. A native Californian, I have been a professional wildlife biologist for over 40 years and continue to pursue my learning the intricacies of the natural world. I initially found my source of woods in roots and burls of dead wood located on our property in the Sierra foothills or in driftwood piles on the northern California beaches. More recently I have begun to use a variety of North American woods, preferring species with natural cracks, crevices and bark inclusions and the hollow forms turned from these distressed woods often have these filled with semi-precious stones and minerals for accent and diversity. Southwestern Native American pottery has a strong influence on my designs and I strive to emphasize the natural random grain and faulting so as to augment the natural flow of the piece. Finishing is a laborious application of oils and fine wax. These turnings are primarily artistic accent pieces as opposed to utilitarian items. A few dried flowers is all I expect to find their way into these vessels.
"But…it’s got a hole in it!" Wood is not perfect! It is biological material and is subject to the effects of moisture; temperature and light; the length of exposure; insect attack; disease and decay; and the unique physical properties, such as density, grain, color, and growth rate of each tree species. The result may be discolorations, irregular grain patterns, cracks and holes, all adding to the character and natural beauty of wood. Different areas in a single tree may produce a variety of colors, density and grain. These include: Root: Often with wild random patterns, gaps and holes. Trunk: Usually straighter grain. Some trees have very distinct variation between the sapwood)and the heartwood while others may have almost indistinguishable variation. Crotch: The point where a branch or division on the trunk occurs and the grain separates and goes in two or more directions. Burl: An abnormal growth on the trunk of a tree. It originates in the cambium and is the site of enhanced and atypical growth in a localized area (similar to a cancerous growth). Causes include, but are not limited to, insect, fungal and disease, though the exact causes and mechanisms of an existing burl are difficult or impossible to determine. Burl may also have hidden bark pockets within the wood that leave holes and gaps. Spalting: Resulting from decay – the invasion of fungi and bacteria into the wood fibers. |