The shop is overwhelmed with chips, dust, hunks, and piles. There are piles of half-done projects, which all need to be done by the beginning of December. You observe with a sly grin that to do that, I’ll be working until midnight every night. That’s too true, but I can be stealthy about doing quiet things like using the card scraper, writing notes, or applying finishes.
Right now, I’ve started the first of a series of reasonably large cherry bowls. I aim to have eight of these ready to go in December; with the grain pattern, I suspect some of them will be absolute stunners.
It’s been observed that there is a big difference between my two carving styles. One is the boat and ship portraits, eagles, and other carvings that I refer to as detail work. On the other side is the free-flowing work represented by the bowls, spoons, and a few different types of carving. Cutting boards just don’t fit in either category, though.
In terms of proportions, I probably produce a greater volume of the free-flowing items, but the detail carvings require more significant planning and execution.
I need both. After a detailed carving, I appreciate a more unrestricted form that allows me to play around.
The photos illustrate the early stages of carving a bowl. The fun thing is not knowing what will come out of it. Uncertainty can be a lot of fun, not in a portrait, but in a bowl; it’s part of why you are carving it.
Nice post
Sounds like the usual condition of Bob’s studio. If that is redwood you’re working on in the photo on the bottom right of the additional posts you are using, I hope you are wearing a mask! We had a ventilation system in the entire woodshop with draws over each work area, but he’d get busy and wouldn’t turn them on.. The result was sad, but he, like you, created many beautiful things in the interim…Take care.
The wood is cherry but I use a mask, hearing protection and goggles for all the sanding and stuff. for bowls I tend to work at this time of the year so I can do most to the work outside. I do have air filtration in both shops, but it’s never enough. It’s the reason I do most of the bowls and spoons in the fall and spring.
Good boy!!!
I’ve had friends who developed issues with dust from sanding.
“The fun thing is not knowing what will come out of it.” Wise words!
Yea it’s a contrast between the regimented and unregimented. Both are fun in their own way and in their own place.