Inspiration?

[Bodrighy]

I have been wondering, where do we all get our inspiration from? A simple question but looking at the work that we are now seeing there is such a diverse range of styles and so forth that I can't help wondering where we all look for ideas. Some have obvious engineering backgrounds and focus on preciscioun and measurement, others seem to look to nature, others, perhaps like me, are still very hit and miss. I'd be interested to know whether there are specifc role models we have for example.

Pete

 

[El-Zilcho]

As a newbie, I think most of my inspiration isn't for new design, but to be able to recreate something for myself, and mastering the basics. I have found myself picking things up to study their form more and more recently, and trying to work out what size blank I would need to make them.

I suppose I would like to turn 'natural' looking pieces (curved/flowing), but for the most part I am happy if what I finish with looks good, even if it not what I planned! :lol:

Jez

 

[Vulthoom]

I must admit that all my turning so far, particularly with bowls has been a kind of doodling.

I pick a likely piece of timber, put it on the lathe, start cutting and see what takes shape....

 

[jpt]

To misquote someone "life the universe and everything"

Literally from everywhere, it could be photos on here or elsewhere on the net.

Something I have seen when out and about, something on the TV or anywhere else.


john

 

[Paul.J]

I'm not sure Pete :?
When i have tried to copy a piece it never turns out the same,not even resembling it. :roll:
I still feel that it is the lump of wood that i put on the lathe that dictates to me how it turns out,strangely enough.
I know i am getting a feel for the "ARTY SIDE" of it now,which i think was seeing Mark Hancocks work in the flesh at the shows,and now with George and Mark S's pieces coming on now recently.
So in that respect seeing others work has sort of changed my thinking :?

 

[Jenx]

Good question, Pete !

Being another 'learner' -- it tends to 'end up as the wood spirits dictate', and seldom what I originally intended !

With bowls, I do 'try' and look at the blank before starting, and see if the figure / grain suggests something .. but more often than not, even if it does... something "Kharmic" intervenes, and out comes 'something unforecasted'.
Sometimes, to my delight.. sometime to my utter dispair !

Having said that.. I took a bit of time to read the things that Phillip Streeting posted, and realised, albeit at a very basic level, that I should be thinking more about design, form, shape and flow... and have vowed to try and do so.

I suspect that I may not be alone in this... but I'm confident that I know when something is "good" ( looking at the work of others, I mean ).... but can I get my own head to come up with a great design that others are going to be impressed by ? .. can I heck.
:lol:

Will keep trying though.. and as Paul says often.. " One day " :wink: 8)

 

[Paul.J]

Jenx wrote

and as Paul says often.. " One day "

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I'd like to know when you,yourself know's that day has arrived

 

[Jenx]

I've set aside a day in Feb 2025, where I intend to have a big rag and some brasso ready, cause there is a big fat MEDAL to be shined !

 

[Bodrighy]

Jenx wrote

and as Paul says often.. " One day "

:lol: :lol: :lol:
I'd like to know when you,yourself know's that day has arrived

Think about it Paul, it happens a lot. When you do something that you are really pleased with. Look at your rocking horses, the beautiful things that you have turned, each one is 'one day' to be celibrated before moving on to the next. . Life is all about one day at a time. ccasion5: If you set your standards so high that you will never reach them it will never happen.

Pete

 

[PowerTool]

My inspiration comes from all sorts of places,and the timber often adds it's own ideas as well :lol:
I prefer functional to arty,so often get ideas on shape and form from ancient pottery - particularly bronze age and Romano-British.
Having said that,there have been a few "arty" pieces on here recently that have made me think "wow,that looks nice!",so I'm not a lost cause altogether :wink:
This forum is a continual source of inspiration,and seems to be getting better all the time.
And sometimes,it's just the colour or shape or pattern in a piece of timber that I want to try and show off to best effect.

Happy turning,

Andrew

 

[johnny.t.]

I just like shapes and fiddling with them, I have an idea of a shape/design and usually(try to) make it ,then make more similar to the first, tinkering with the idea trying to get it right(well right in my head anyhow). I try not to read books or look at too many pictures as I like to do my own thing, but I guess that ideas/influences are everywhere in things we see and have seen.

Cheers JT
(man that sound pretentious :roll: )

 

[wizer]

Well as a relative newbie I can only really speak of what I have seen here. I'm a big fan of Mark Hancock's work and, more recently, the stuff Mark Sanger is posting. Once I get up to speed I really want to get into the decorative\Artistic stuff. I'm not sure what Mark and Mark would call their genre, or even if they would consider themselves in the same genre.

Elsewhere in woodworking I am a massive fan of Japanese culture, so that will always creep into what I am doing.

 

[Blister]

Personally . I always Like to have a idea in mind and draw it out before I start :lol:

If not how do you know what you will end up with or weather you have made it correctly :?: to your design ?

Works for me , but on the odd occasion it goes wrong :roll:

 

[El-Zilcho]

Jenx - that is almost exactly what I tried and failed to say! I know what looks good to me, but I'm darned if I can form it :roll:

Although on a more promising note, I have managed to create feet or beads how I envisaged them, but not whole forms yet. Start small and build up, like you say it's just a matter of time

 

[mikec]

I usually start out with an intention to make a specific design, inspired by various sources, lots of them in this forum.

Then the long downhill process begins, affected by 'wood spirits' :shock:
small operational inconsistencies (OK cockups then) the fatal 'just one more finishing cut' streaks in the finish :x until my superb hollow form emerges as a ....... thimble :!: :!: :!:

Mike C

 

[boysie39]

In my case I see something here or in somebodys gallery or in a Mag. and thats it . Down to the shed and doh! what was I going to do first. But I will give it a shot and low and behold a compleatly different masterpiece emerges. I'm afraid that design and drawing were not my great attributs in life. But enjoyment was and still is and thats what I get from my lathe, and everyone a Boysie one off.
Very good question Pete gonna be lots of answers that I may learn from REgards Boysie

 

[maltrout512]

In my circumstance I upgraded the lathe last May mainly to turn for customers. This isn't my main income just an addition to my wood working. The inspirations come from my customers cheque book. I do look at other peoples work and more often than not I think that the work is outstanding, but as has been mentioned try to replicate and it never comes out the same. I have to replicate repairs on chair/stool strechers etc but don't so much with other peoples work. I go down the road that the wood and I choose and see what happens.

 

[DaveL]

Well most of my ideas are from what you lot have posted. :shock:

OK so I suppose I am a bit of a plagiarist but I am still learning how to turn, if someone posts something I really like and its of a size that will fit on the small lathe I print it out and work from that.

 

[John. B]

Dave,
that is not plagiarism, that is to some extent copying or emulating someone elses work.
To a large degree that is flattery. It only becomes plagiarism when you put it forward as your own work.
From emulation comes inspiration, from somebody elses design comes your design.
You will change as your skill improves both in design and application, which is why turning is such a fascinating pastime.

John. B

 

[duncanh]

I tend to go for quite basic forms with simple, flowing curves.
Inspirations include John Hunnex's books, Marks Baker's books (particularly 'Woodturning Projects: A Source Book Of Shapes') and most of the projects by Tracey Owen in Woodturning magazine

I recently bought the excellent book The Art Of Turned Bowls by Richard Raffan and recommend that every turner read it - it covers basic design including overall form, walls, rims, bases (in a much better way than the recent magazine articles). It goes on to surface decoration and reshaping. It's full of wonderfully photographed turnings.

Philip Streeting recently provided some thought useful and provoking articles that I think will help me develop idea in the future.


Before starting a turning a shop bought blank with set dimensions I tend to draw a cross section and try out various designs. I then try to stick to that design when I turn.

When working with logs or other uneven blanks I tend to put the wood to one side for a couple of days to give me time to decide on the best course of action.


I hope this is the sort of response you were after when you asked Pete