Raku bowl

[mark sanger]

Hi all

Thank you for your comments.

I am glad this butters your parsnips, lol, I got what you said about the stones on the beach.

Lightweeder

Thank you, two out of three isn't bad.


Paul

Thank you

What you ask is a very valid question.

Before I answer I want to clarify that raku work or colouring can obviously take on any variation of colour of texture.

I believe that when you enter into olouring that you target a much smaller audience. IE some may not like the colour but the texture, some the texture and not the colour. The colour may fit in with interiors at that time but may not in a couple of years. Or the next year as the trends change so much. This could of course open up a larger more regularly changing market.

So this enable me to change my work to suit current tastes by changing the colour. Something that I can not do with wood alone.

I do not make my work to make other woodies happy. ( this is not meant as an insult) As a maker who has decided to sell aesthetic items only within a gallery and commission/interior market I have to keep my mind open and look at many different/varied lines of output.

If we look at using wood alone as a medium. When I was young mahogany was the in vogue posh furniture to have. Now it is out of date. No one will touch it due to the colour and eco issues.

Then it was pine in the 80's -90's

now it is ash, maples , light oaks.

I have to say that in this instance that I can not say if someone would want to buy this work as at the moment it is an exercise of techniques. The beginning of a journey to explore.

The only thing I would say is, are the doors in your home painted, if so why were they not left in natural wood.

How about the picture frames.

Why not just buy a blank canvas to look at instead of a painting, or a blank piece of paper instead of a poster.


I make as you are aware a black bit of sycamore with a chilli on top which you can not eat. But people buy them from me.

However I understand why you ask this as a few years ago I thought the same. You would not find me colouring a piece of wood for love nor money.

However I now want to develop different work to include colour, texture and other media, to include, precious metal, colours, in the future glass and stone. I do not see myself remaining as solely a woodturner but a mixed media maker, with the foundation in woodturning.

Time will tell. But I am enjoying the freedom of making.

I am certainly continuing with my other work.

I apologise for my ramblings .

 

[Bodrighy]

Don't apologise Mark, it's good to hear your views and reasons. Paul's query has been mine for a lomng time but slowly I find myself coming round to the idea of using wood as a base for other things. I still love the look, smell and feel of wood but also like the challenge involved in decorating, colouring etc. Though personally I think the Raku bowl looks perhaps a bit more metalllic than stone I see it as something of beauty in it's own right. If it didn't turn out exactly as you intended tghat doesn't matter as long as you are happy with the result. Wood turning is so varied. I look at your work, Bihn Pho's work or Cindy Drozfha's and see art, not just craft (No discussion required :lol: see my signature) and want to emulate whilst not losing my first love of wood.

Pete

 

[mikec]

The "ramblings" are very interesting as we watch your journey from the sidelines. I am still in the "wood" phase of turning though I am thinking of including some metallic highlights.

You are much further down the road from me, I may never get to where you are but I enjoy watching you go through the process as your work is something I aspire to.

Hope this doesn't sound too precious, I just enjoy your work very much.

Mike C

 

[mark sanger]

Pete

Thank you very much indeed. It is fun to try different work and it certainly helps if you get bored of making a particular style as you can have a play piece sat on the side to keep interest and ideas flowing.

Mike



Thank you. No it does not sound too precious. I am very happy that my work is of interest.

Thank you all again