turning of the week

My choice for Turning of the Week for September 18, 2023, is “Stardust” by Greg Gallegos. I kept coming back to look at this piece. It has it all going for it in my book. It has a great form (perfect egg shape), great color (natural walnut vs. acrylics), multiple textures (smooth vs. carved)...

I never thought picking out a TOTW would be so difficult when I signed on for this! There has been so many fabulous embellished turnings posted in the past few weeks, that they make this choice difficult......and those great works of art tend to overshadow the few "pure" turned pieces we see...

My selection for turning of the week is OUROBOROS by Heather Marusiak. This sculptural turning seems to jump off the screen demanding to be more closely seen. A stunning flow of curves, scale like textures, and colors. A moving creature frozen in time with light playing off the surfaces. The...

Curt Fuller creates many forms using the basket of illusions in his work. I am familiar with Curt's work, and it is important to note that all of Curt's pieces start with a well-turned form. It cannot be repeated enough, that no amount of surface embellishment, or artwork, regardless of how...

My choice for Turning of the Week beginning Monday, August 14, 2023 is “Red Oak Vessel" by Kevin Jesequel. Kevin’s hollow forms are textbook. His curves are always continuous and his openings narrow. I appreciate his well-formed necks/rims, as well as his typically small bases that give lift to...

My selection for TOTW for the week of August 7, 2023, is "Blackened Oak Bowl" by Marc Banka. From the moment that I first laid eyes on this absolutely stunning bowl, I knew that Marc Banka had made my task this week a "no-brainer". This bowl immediately invites being held and imagining the...

The competition was tough tonight. But, in the end, I have a unanimous winner; his work checked all the boxes and then some. "Pumpkin" by Sid Bright caught my attention immediately. Well executed, meticulously turned, and put together flawlessly. I enjoy seeing work that is not just another...

My choice for Turning of the Week for July 24, 2023 is “Fragmented Recovery” by Michael Anderson. This is an interesting concept to meet the SWT imposed challenge requirements and it was done very creatively and artistically. I really like the burned texture on the interior, and the base...

To define this style properly, I think Art Deco would be correct.....what do you think? Anyway, my thoughts on this piece are this has great artistic value, and David Bushman's "Victory Vase" is my choice for this week's turning of the week. -o-

I love it when it is my turn to choose the TOTW, and one piece stands out, making the choice much easier. That being said, I had a list of several pieces as finalists, but in the end, I kept going back to "The Seabed in the Eye of My Mind" by David Senecal. I have spent countless hours diving in...

When looking for this week’s featured turning, I wanted to choose a turning that was not only well done with great attention to detail, but also one that pushed the boundary of the envelope a bit beyond the norm. Well, when I saw "The Perfect Cast" by Don Frank I knew that was it. This...

My choice for Turning of the Week for May 29th, 2023 is “Rocking Bowl” by James Seyfried. This sizable piece has it all going for it. Great walnut crotch figure, fine turning, and flawless finish … and, it looks like a guitar! The small bowl and subtle double inlay add to the illusion. Great...

My choice for TOTW for May 22, 2023 is Gabriel Hoff's "Elegant Ogee Bowl". Simple, but very elegant finely executed shape, mated with exceptional burl....a combination that excels! -o-

My selection for Turning of the Week of May 15, 2023, is “First Light, First Song" by Ronald Campbell. This is the latest in a series of bird sculptures that Ronald has posted this year. Earlier ones include “Chicklet” and “Looney Bird”. Skillfully carved and painted into a wonderful blend...

A tough decision this month. So many excellent pieces. After much looking, I settled on "Callisto" by Dennis Ramos. I love the contrast and perfect form. The contrast of the texture vs smooth wood and the color of the textured areas balanced nicely with the bottom wood. Very well done.

My choice for turning of the week, May 1, 2023, is Dave Roberts' "Arbutus Menzies Burl". His story about harvesting this wood was both interesting and challenging. He turned a beautiful form from green to final thickness, and let the wood do what it was going to do. A wonderful choreography...

Another great week to be choosing the TOTW! So many nice pieces! In the end, "Lifting Off" by Mike Foster checked off all the marks for me. I had 3 as the finalists. In the end, Mike's photography was the best by far. The turning is flawless. The carving is spectacular and the acrylics, are as...

My choice for Turning of the Week for April 17, 2023, is "Bradford Bag-o-Sand" by Michael Anderson. I can envision that this beautiful hollowform with its "just right" curvature could easily be mistaken for the real deal. And, for me, the coup de grâce is the texturing that is the convincing...

It's always fun to look through the galleries to select the TOTW. I look for a good picture: a clear or gradient background is a must. A cluttered shop in the back or your living room is not an appealing picture. This week's honor goes to Thomas Scurto Davis and his amazing piece called...

My choice for Turning of the Week for April 3rd, 2023 is “Chaco Passages” by Jim McLain. Jim has produced some very beautiful pieces in this series. The contrast between the fantastic grain of the smooth surfaces and the added brickwork is wonderful. I love the subtle textures and slight...