Birch coloured bowl - for critique please

[Gitface]

Hi All

This one is a Birch bowl that I've tried doing a mottled colouring on the top.

Top view:

Side view:

Bottom view:

I've had this piece a while but was unsure what to do with it as the blank was thin and to large an inner bowl would have come close to going through the side, so with all the talk of colouring recently I though I'd have a go with this.

The dye's used were water based that I nicked off my mate, so I was worried that the grain would lift. So following the advice on the bottle I wet the wood first and then sanded, including using wet & dry, which seemed to work.

I was surprised at how little dye I had to use, literally, kitchen towel over top and tip once and that was it. Then went to town and dabbed away.

Mounted back on lathe and cut the two grooves.

Thanks,

Mark........

 

[Blister]

O dear :?

Dont think this has worked at all , well not for me , but well done for trying :wink:

 

[wabbitpoo]

my critique would be: horrible! sorry, but the bowl is nice, but the colouring is awful. That said, I know how hard colouring is - I have tried it and had less success than you, so keep at it. All my opinion, and no offence meant!

 

[CHJ]

Sorry but colouring is just a total disaster to my eyes, you need to spend a considerable time practising blending or providing distinct demarcation lines between the colours.

Being brutal, this to me looks like it has been given to a 5 year old to daub with poster paints.

Had you still got the holding spigot/socket I would suggest you skim the top surface and just showcase the woods natural features.


I note you mention using diverse types of stains/inks on various pieces, nothing wrong with this for special effects but I would advise you get a 'standard' set of wood stains from someone such as Chestnut (sample bottles) and develop and practise with them, this way you will have eliminated any variables associated with dye/stain type.

 

[mark sanger]

Hi If you are interested in colouring then have a look at Nick Arnull's projects recently in woodturning magazine.

Nick covers this and many other techniques.

Something I have seen George Foweraker do is to leave the spigot on and try out a techniques, then skim the face off and try another.

This way for a £5 blank you can try out loads of techniques and if they don't work then just skim the face and start again.

The colouring on this one is too harsh for may taste. However I do not dislike the effect itself. On a more contemporary bowl with more subdued colours it may have a different effect.

Also it may help if you take the colour into the base to tie the top in with the main form.

If you are into colouring I would highly recommend a day or two with Nick Arnull. I have been on a course with him and he knows loads about it but also it teaches in an easy to understand way.

I saved probably a year or two experimenting just by spending two days with him.



Have you tried staining with a base colour. Let it dry. Rub this back in places down to the wood add another colour over the top, let it dry, cut this back again in different areas. etc. This can give some great effects.

i am certainly no expert at but get some nice results.

 

[George Foweraker]

One way of getting a nice effect with spirit stains is something Colin Simson showed me.
Take three brushes i use pastry brushes and three different coloured spirit stains in pots.
Spray methylated spirits over the surface you want to color then dip the brushes in the stain hold them in a bunch and stipple the surface.The methylated spirits will make the colours blend giving a nice effect.
Mark is right i spend hours trying different texturing and colouring techniques on a flat surface then skim it off and try something else.
One thing i would suggest is keep a notebook beside you and record your results because you will never remember.

Regards George

 

[Gitface]

Thanks for the comments.

I should be able to re mount this as it was mounted on a glug block in the first place.

When I first did it I stood back and was in two minds. Also I think the colour correction for the white balance might have made the colours a like bit more vibrant.

Cheers,

Mark...........

 

[cornucopia]

hi mark

I think everything has been coverd re: comments on this piece etc
but just for future ref and to help you identify it again this wood is cherry not birch