First Hollow Forms

[RogerB]

These are my first attempt at hollow forms how can I improve.
Comments Please.










Roger

 

[miles_hot]

I like the taller one the most - I think the profile works better than the other which has a sort of slumped look to it.

Damn good for a first attempt though! Wish I had the skills to do it

You might want to move this to the turning forum for a faster response...

Miles

 

[CHJ]

Roger it looks like you are doing well, I personally prefer the first taller item.

These are my first attempt at hollow forms how can I improve.

As for how you can improve, I'm afraid I have not a clue, artistic interpretation is not my forte'.

I would say as long as you can achieve a good consistent finish then it is down to your personal preference for form.

As I see it you either develope themes that you can envisage or you base your forms on existing gallery trends until such time as you develope a better understanding or preference.

No doubt the more accomplished members in this field will be along to give you pointers.

 

[RogerB]

Miles

How do I move it to the correct forum.

Roger

 

[CHJ]

Roger, drop a PM to DaveL or another of the mods, they will do it for you.

 

[miles_hot]

how can I improve...Comments Please.Roger

On these forms where you have a wide top and people can easily see and touch the internal surface you need to have finished it to the same standard as you have achieved on the outside.

On the shorter one, it might be the angle of the picture etc however, the foot looks a little rectangular - almost as if the tenon used to hold the form inthe chuck has been left on...

The exterior finish on the tall vessel is lovely and as I said earlier the profile is really nice.

Frankly I'd be technically chuffed to have done either and artistically very very chuffed to have done the tall one - looking forward to the next ones ")

Miles

 

[user 5053]

The general shape and style is a little anodyne and lacklustre. If you can get some understanding of shape, design and form etc into your work you will reap the rewards. Also hollow forms....why? Totally unpractical things. Make something useful that people want.

 

[miles_hot]

The general shape and style is a little anodyne and lacklustre. If you can get some understanding of shape, design and form etc into your work you will reap the rewards. Also hollow forms....why? Totally unpractical things. Make something useful that people want.

Roger, have a look at some of the other stuff which has not reached Soulfly's high standards :roll: and judge if you like them

As for "hollow forms, why bother" - I have to say that they have a practical purpose - they can look and feel bloody fantastic. Art, what's the point! One day I will be good enough to be doing hollow stuff just to show off the beauty of wood as well as the other more functional stuff

Miles

 

[wizer]

Fantastic first attempt. I like both actually. What tools did you use and what are the timbers?

Ignore that Soulfly moron, he's just some nerd who trawls the internet getting kicks out of insulting people with nothing to back it up.

 

[RogerB]

Thanks Wizer and Miles

I realise what Soulfly is like after looking at his other comments to forum members.

Am of to the lathe now to have another go now Hollow forms and maybe a Goblet or two!!

Wizer

I used a Rob Sorb Hollow master for the inside after drilling out the centre with a 57 dia Dewalt self feeding bit with the feed screw removed. What a drill bit.

Both are splatted Beech and are finished in soft wax.

The tall one is 4" dia x 61/4" ht
The other is 5 1/4 Dia x 2 3/4" ht


Roger

 

[CHJ]

Roger, don't put yourself under too much pressure to produce complex shapes, good simple forms in a variety of woods can be very beneficial in establishing good tool control and familiarity and can lead to a better understanding of the benefits of different bevel angles etc.

 

[boysie39]

Maybe I missed it , But I dont recall the Fly telling Cornucopia or Mark Sanger that hollow forms were a waste of time and of no use. Maybe he missed their postings when he blinked. REgards Boysie.

 

[mark sanger]

The general shape and style is a little anodyne and lacklustre. If you can get some understanding of shape, design and form etc into your work you will reap the rewards. Also hollow forms....why? Totally unpractical things. Make something useful that people want.

This is an interesting post and one which I find a magnet to me.

The reason I say this and why I am replying is not to disregard what you have said but to explain from my experience as a professional turner whose income is made mainly from items that have no use, as to why, as it were I do what I do.

Turning firstly if you are doing it as a hobby/interest/love of working with wood or full time job should be just that. A love of working with wood.

You should always make what you desire to make after all, we all live very hectic lives running on the treadmill that is ever present in our lives. Mortgage, work, family commitments, bills and more bills, oh yes and work. So when we step into the workshop do we really want to be making something that others can use or not.

Now if we are looking at it from a purely commercial business point of view which unfortunately involves that pain in the rear substance called money there are two sides to the coin. This is a rarely talked about subject in forums as most make what they do through enjoyment.

Painting at the galleries I sell my work in have no use. I can't put pea nuts in them, salad or drink my favourite local beer. I can not wedge my door open with them nor can I place a candle in the top to add light to my room when I am relaxing.

Yet they sell for several thousands of pounds.

The sculptures sit below them and the perfectly sculpted wooden teddy bear and other amazingly creative items all around the gallery too have no other purpose, but to add to the aesthetic appeal to the environment into which they are placed. Yet they too sell for hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Then there is my work which also sells, regularly, (hollow forms, bowls with holes in the side, lidded forms, wall hangings) just for the appeal of being able to look at it.

There are salad bowls, pea nut bowls, jigsaws, games, rocking horses, watches, pens, items of use, items of no practical use other than bringing enjoyment to those that look.

All have the same thing in common. Quality of design, quality of craftsman ship with a uniqueness that people now want in their homes.

Why own a Aston Martin over my 306.? They only go in the same direction. Backwards, forwards left and right. Why because those that can afford the design and luxury can because they appreciate and have the money to do so. Why buy a picasso ? because those who can, can.

It is the same with artistic or aesthetic turning/wood work.

I do not want to get into how much I sell my work for as I make my work because I love making it and because it fulfils my life to be able to make a living by such a wonderful craft.

The things people (want) or rather (need) these days are made in the thousands and every one has one.

I have a friend who is a well known pen maker who sells his pens for over £100. But why as I can buy a bic for 20p. Why because people appreciate quality.

Now I do not say there is not value in making usable items. Far from it after all there are well know turners making thousands upon thousands of bowls or spindles a year which have a purely practical use. But you ask these turners why they make thousands and thousands of bowls or spindles and they will reply, because they enjoy doing it.

And that is why we should make what we do and for no other reason. whether it be, pens, bowls, hollow forms or door wedges.

If you are going to make a door wedge. Make the best door wedge that has ever been made and because you want to make it. Or don't make one at all.

take care

Mark

 

[wizer]

Mark there is label for people like Soulfly on internet forums. Troll. Trolling is where someone posts something deliberately controversial to get a reaction from other posters. Soulfly has put down people's work in 98% of all his posts since he joined. He never responds to question directly put to him and he never posts his work. Which is why I now resort to just insulting him back at every opportunity. The internet is full of these sad types who have nothing in their life but to get off on insulting people behind a shield of anonymity. You'd do best to just ignore his comments as they really don't mean anything. Most of the times he contradicts himself or makes a bizarre claims which can't be backed up.

 

[mark sanger]

Mark there is label for people like Soulfly on internet forums. Troll. Trolling is where someone posts something deliberately controversial to get a reaction from other posters. Soulfly has put down people's work in 98% of all his posts since he joined. He never responds to question directly put to him and he never posts his work. Which is why I now resort to just insulting him back at every opportunity. The internet is full of these sad types who have nothing in their life but to get off on insulting people behind a shield of anonymity. You'd do best to just ignore his comments as they really don't mean anything. Most of the times he contradicts himself or makes a bizarre claims which can't be backed up.

ah

I see. Thanks for heads up, and I just thought he was someone who didn't have a clue about design or quality.



I wish I was computer savey. At least I did not waste the time with my reply as it benefits my typing skills.

M

 

[Anonymous]

Also hollow forms....why?

Check my signature.... it's the only justification necessary (...as
if justification were needed... and it isn't!)

Keep the snotty comments coming soulfly... you're putting some life into this somewhat 'comfort zone ' forum :wink:

Don't ya just luv the typos (I'm being generous :lol: ) who's or whose?

 

[mark sanger]

Roger

Hi

If this is your first attempt then have a cigar.

=D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

To be able to make this sort of work involves an amount of skill with the gouge.

Your forms are great.

As to how you can improve them is a subjective question.

For me a form should be viewed as a whole. So if I look at a piece I like to look at it and not have my eye drawn to any one place but to view it as one form.

I do not know if you are aware of workingin thirds but this may help. It is not always correct but most often is.

IE if you turn a bowl then if the foot is one third of the diameter it will look in proportion.

If you turn a hollow form then if the height is one third of the dia or visa versa it will give the piece more balance.

With your large form the curve is fairly gradual down the side and then curves in quite sharply in the last eigth of the form. This makes it look slightly heavy.

So you could try this. next time start the curve a third of the way down the side from the top. Then finish it so that the base is a third of the diameter of the whole piece. This will give a lighter form.

Now I am not saying that what you have done is not good as it is. And I can tell you know my first attempts ended up in the bin.


On the smaller form next time reduce the height of the base again to one third of the dia and make the height of it only a few millimetres. This will give the appearance that the piece is floating as the shadow from the form will cover the base as in the picture I have inset.

This piece has a foot but it can not be seen so it does not draw the eye.

What you have made is very good and I hope you don't mind my suggestions.

Keep up the great work

Take care

Mark

 

[Anonymous]

Having set soulfly to rights I'm happy to opine your hollow forms...
,
as has been noted by previous respondents your skills are evident ... that leaves the 'form' for consideration....

my (self important) view is that if you like them they're good'uns!!

You may wish to consider appealing to a wider audience in which case draw upon examples posted here and elsewhere for guidance. hth

 

[Jenx]

Good Lad, Roger !
Looks like you're doing wonderfully well there,

The H/F holds the biggest fear for me and I guess for a lot of learners like me.

Your efforts look great.

And as everyone has advised - ignore that buffoon.
Everyone else does,
The only reason folk have dignified 'said buffoon' with anything resembling a response here, is just to make sure you wouldn't be put off and think that 'buffoonspeak' was typical of the forum in general.
-- It isn't. But you've sussed that out already :wink:

Your stuff's great, Your enjoying the learning, you'll enjoy the 'virtual' company with some lovely people here .. ( bar one, of course ),
And I'm sure everyone else is delighted to see your turnings.. I know I am. 8)

* * * * * * * *

Buffoon : .. can't you take up rambling or underwater origami or something ? Jeeze man, ye give my er5e the toothache with yer idiotic comments. :evil:

 

[cornucopia]

hello roger

great first effort as others have said hollowing can be very daunting-

as for form improvement it has already been said but just to add.... the 1/3 to 2/3rds is a good start but also smooth flowing curvers without facets and make things which please you.

just for future ref- strictly speaking these are not hollow forms- hollow forms have very small hollowing holes (normally 1 1/2" or smaller) if you can see inside or get your hand in its a closed form or vase/vessel

best wish's
george