Pan

Hi Stefan Apologies my first response was based on your view on just making money

Well Stefan Based on what I thought of you - what a sad reply!

Hi Stefan Please don't take offence to what I am about to say Surely the art and craft of wood carving cannot be replicated by machine and computer. Where is the artistic ability and skill in becoming a computer programmer? Carving is a learned skill that requires practice and time to master. There are many great carvers on here that weald chainsaws to great results, or to the likes of me who get fed up using chainsaws all day so use traditional chisels instead. Computers and 3d CNC machines cannot and will not ever recreate the skill and artistic ability of the human hand and mind. When you see a mass produced computer orientated carving it de-values the true meaning of time honoured skill and craftsmanship - is this what progress and skill really means? I think these true values, should, and do reflect on the sort of person I thought you were (based on your postings). Are you more interested in mass produced/mass profit/ little skill, or the true meaning of human craftsmanship? Kind regards David

Listening to the news today it sounds like Nicola Sturgeon took the rugby defeat pretty badly!

Cheers for all the replies guys - nice to hear all your views. To answer some of your questions: They are all carved from seasoned wood. They took quite a while to carve, each one done over a weekend. Currently carving a Ginkgo design (but not finished yet)! Many thanks again Pan

Hello again Long time no contact! my apologies for always looking in but not contributing much - definitely time to change An Arb with a hobby of woodturning now changing to woodcarving (as the turning didn't seem to be selling or getting me anywhere). I didn't feel I could put these in the 'chainsaw carving forum' as they were made with chisels rather than chains. They are made from cherry wood mounted on a walnut plaque (7" x 7"). Any opinions or comments for improvement gratefully received. Kind regards Pan

Dan - Looks like you've had a busy weekend and off to a great start with the new lathe, addictive isn't it! Hope you have managed to sort out problem with the woodworm screw - as Steve has said taking lighter cuts with very sharp tools will help. What sharpening system are you using? TWiG - Another great selection of your work. The spalted ash hollow form being my favourite. I would imagine its quite hard to get such a good finish on spalted ash without the wood picking out. I have not got into colouring any of my work yet - how do you find the coloured pieces sell compared to the natural wood items?

Thanks for posting that article Peat its given me lots to think about in pricing my own work - seems like lots of sound advice I love the cruck framed bird table in your other thread. Can we see another photo with the shingles?

Hi Dan Thanks for the positive comment. I look forward to seeing your work on here shortly. Have you got your new DVR-XP set up yet?

Hi all - here is the second Maple burr that I turned. I have left this one a little thicker than the last as it was a bigger burr. I quite like a bit of weight to the form rather than it being too wafer thin. This one measures approx. 14" x 8". I have sanded the inside again, as it had such a large void in the side and everybody I show it to keeps wanting to put their hand inside! Does anybody have any news of any burrs available yet? Regards Pan

How Much? Now there is a good question and one that I've been pondering on myself, perhaps you guys on here can help me out. I've recently been to a few local art/craft galleries with a view to selling my work. It seems the going rate for commission around here is 50/50 or if your lucky 60/40 (This is in the South East). So you have the price of your wood - in this case nothing (my own arb waste) but sometimes I do buy in wood, so a burr this size perhaps £15 -£20. Time - Now I'm not a very fast turner as I only get time at weekends so I guess this piece took me a day to shape and hollow out. I then had to season it for 3/4 weeks as it was green wood. Then when dry sand it, including the inside which took forever (you wouldn't need to do this on a piece that didn't have such open voids). Then multiple coats of oil and wax over a few days - So the total time spent would be a minimum of 1.5 days. The gallery want their cut - I know it seems high but I don't have a shop front to sell stuff from. I could go to a local farmers market or sell online on a cheaper bases, but I don't think you get the same sort of people wanting to spend the same sort of money compared to a gallery. So what sort of price do you put on all of that? The older I get the less I want to be swinging around in the trees, and the more I think of diversifying into selling this sort of work. Probably just a pipe dream - I know!.........but I guess dreams have to start somewhere. What do you folks think?

:lol: I have a feeling our wives would get on like a house on fire! By the way I love the two little pots Terry. The bottom one is my favourite with a very suitable lid for your namesake!

Hi Stompy This one measures approx 7.5" tall x 9" wide. I was really pleased when I finished it but rather crestfallen when I showed it to the wife "Yes very nice dear but what on earth can you put in it"? Practical as ever! - love her to bits

Hi all - Well I finally finished the two Field Maple burr hollow forms that I mentioned a few weeks back, so I thought I would post the results of the first one. The two photos are the same form just front and back. Having turned these burrs, I would love to turn some more. So if anyone on this site is taking down any Field Maples with reasonable sized burrs on it please send me a message. In fact if anyone has any burrs from any trees I would still be interested in purchasing them! Many thanks for your interest Pan

Hi bobh The base of the bowl is the branch, with the head of the pollard at the top of the bowl. All the small branchlets come out the side of the bowl. I think I've got a photo of it before I started turning somewhere.