Critique please

[Bodrighy]

Here's the finished article. Hopefully it looks a bit more in proportion now it's completed.

Padauk with ebony finial & leg. Total is 8" tall. Hollow form is 4" x2 1/2" hollowed to approx 2mm. Finial is 3", leg is 2 1/2"

Comments on design etc welcomed




Pete

 

[loz]

Hi Pete,

Not qualified to be critical - so i'll just say i think its very nice, the wood is stunning.

Loz

 

[Jenx]

Hi Pete, I too cant help but always feel slightly fraudulent in passing a comment on a 'critique' thread... I've said elsewhere that 'everyone's opinion should be valid', but I suppose because I'm so aware of my limitiations in turning, maintaining 'true conviction' of the validity of that opinion, does continue to slightly wrestle with one's concience.

However - having said that,
I personally really 'go for' pieces like yours here.
and am even more keen on it, now that it has it's extended base fitted.
In my humblest of opinions, the piece looks now to be beautifully balanced, I love the contrasting colours , both in the differences of the finial and base to the main body, and indeed that of the Padauk body section itself.
The use of ebony or blackwood ( or certainly any darker wood ) for the finial and base always brings a richness to these types of project for me ... very 'Cindy Drozda' in its execution.
The finish looks from the photographs to be excellent,
and all-in-all, this one definately 'works for me'... I'm a fan of it, its lovely.

 

[CHJ]

..... but I suppose because I'm so aware of my limitiations in turning, maintaining 'true conviction' of the validity of that opinion, does continue to slightly wrestle with one's concience.

Then the very fact that you have thought about the subject piece enough to form an opinion has met the reason d'etre of the critique listing Jenx

 

[cornucopia]

hi pete, the padauk hollow form is stunning- pity the heart and sap didnt go in the middle of the hollowing hole but still very nice-great form.

the finial and foot: firstly i must say that I am a rubbish spindle turner, but i have had the privlige to see and pick up some of the best examples of spindle work and see some of the best turners demonstrate it- i admire anyone who can do it as i am hopeless at it- i feel that this spindle work miss's some of the tick box's by not being crisp and sharp with a mixture of transitions. the piece is now balanced well- and i can see your intention but if it was mine i would be having another go at the spindles as i feel this piece could be a stunner.
best wish's
george

 

[CHJ]

Hi Pete, looks like the new year is going to see a widening of your portfolio horizons.

I can see where you are going with this form, personally I would have liked the top finial to have less bulk in its upper reaches, looks a little top heavy to me, the contrast in the woods for stand and finial is to my taste, I prefer contrasts when there is such a distinct change in profile.

 

[John. B]

I think it is excellent. The shape is pleasing to the eye.
IMO it is nicely balanced. If I wanted to really picky I think the choice of Padauk may and I only say may, have not been the perfect one,
and only because it will go dark brown over time and so will lose that gorgeous red colouration. Apart from that, Smashing \/ :lol: =P~

John. B

 

[TEP]

Happy New Year Pete.

The pedestal is a great improvement to the overall look of the piece. To my mind it just didn't look right with the finial on its own.

Too much sap wood for my liking, but you got to work with the wood you got. I would prefer to see some coves, beads and tulip shapes on the finial and pedestal blending into one another, rather than the sharp transition from stem to cone shape. Also when making pots to this design it looks a lot better if you shape the finial on the basis of a long taper from tip to pot. Then you continue the taper into the pedestal, almost as if you have a long taper with the pot in the middle.

IMO this would look a lot better than straight up and down.

It's early days though, you have the rest of the year in which to practice. :twisted:

 

[Paul.J]

Well Pete when i first saw this piece my first impressipon was that the foot looks too small on it,and was precariously balanced,but after seeing some other pieces similar to this one now,i know this is the way they are done and yours looks well in proportion now.
Can someone explain why the feet are so small on these pieces:?:

I think the top finial does look too bulky/heavy as if it should be on the base,if you see what i mean.
I would like to see it more delicate looking.
I think the timbers and the three colours do work together,a nice mixture.
Nice looking piece though Pete

 

[Bodrighy]

Thanks guys. Overall I am quite pleased with it. I agree after looking that the finial is perhaps top heavy and I like Tam's idea of following through from finial to foot. None of it glued down so I could have another go at this. I don't havve any more ebony but perhaps if I use another wood and ebonize. Perhaps with the dramatic look of the centre the finial and foot would be better much simpler. As said....plenty of time to practice.

Pete

 

[johnny.t.]

The hollowform and the foot are great, I like the way the form sits on the foot like a little pedestal and the ebony goes really well with the form. I as others have said don't like the finial, it looks too big at the top and very straight up between the detailed bits.
Hollowing the whole thing out to 2mm though is great it must have been a bit scary!! All in all its a nice piece.

JT

 

[Wanlock Dod]

Hi Pete,

It's a cracking job

I think that the base and finial are difficult to work out in terms of dimensions. I would probably hav egone for them to be different heights and probably with a larger foot. You often see lots of sharp detail in pieces like this, which I sometimes feel is a bit of a case of decoration for decorations sake. Some times it feels as though the turner is saying - it's got all this detail because I can (and good on them). Personally I quite like a smooth curvy look such as you've achieved.

Cheers,

Dod

 

[PowerTool]

Aww bugger - almost too late to be able to add anything that hasn't been said already

So I'll just go with - I like it! A lot (Adding the foot has transformed the overall look of the piece)

Andrew

 

[robo hippy]

I get nervous around pieces that have a foot that is that small. I am one of those who will walk into the room it is in, and it will fall over, and every one will turn and look at me. I like the way you used the sap wood and heart wood. It doesn't have to be symetrical to look good to me. Kind of like my warped bowls.
robo hippy

 

[mikec]

Hi Pete,

Just picked up on this item in Critiques. Overall I like it a lot.
For my personal taste I would prefer to see more of an overall taper on the top finial, the top section being smaller in diameter than the section below. The finish is very good

Regards,

Mike C

 

[maltrout512]

Great work Pete. Another one for the album. List that one under F for fantastic.