Hi and a happy Sunday to all.
I am new to AAW forums, but with twenty years of turning to under my belt. I was a potter before this for about 20 years too, arthritis cut my potting short.
I love wood and how it feels, smells and looks. I recently moved to the Mojave Desert (Sandy Valley) pros leaving the snow and ice of the Canadian north east (Nova Scotia) and on the con side leaving a boundless source of hardwoods and softwoods alike. I am looking forward to participating in these forums getting honest critique of my work and helpful hints of what is smart to do and what is questionable in what I do. In moving I had to relocate my studio which required building two car garage and fitting the inside with electricity and power and drywalling. Well I completed that about 1.5 years back and have been working finding suitable woods to turn. I do buy imported hardwood, but they are so expensive that sales difficult, even to just reclaim the price of wood. I am fortunate that a small gallery in Idyllwild in the in the San Jacinto mountains carries some of my work.
The Pandemic has slowed sales of my work, and my online teaching has greatly declined over the past two years a people appear to be pausing their educations. I had thought with lock downs that online education would have increased at the established providers but as one of my T shirts says (the one i am wearing now) "I may be wrong' BUT it is highly unlikely"! LOL!
Going in reverse a few years back I went back to school and completed a two year degree in "Studio Practice" at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. The certificate was great fun as I got o hangout with YOUNG people trying to be artists and I got to talk to a get advice from established Canadian artists. As an unexpected bonus I took several Art History courses which I really enjoyed, now when we visit Europe I pretty well live in art galleries, big and small.
Other education - a doctorate in Economics and Ethics, both subject which I taught for many years after completing that degree. A Master of Management and a BSc, (Honours) in Ecology - Botany. As a working professional I consulted in business management (mainly small businesses), managed a program in "Small Business Management" for the Yukon Government. I have served on many boards and committees, most notable as Chairman of a Public Utility Board. During all my education and work time I continued to "make' things, wooden, plaster sculptures, paintings and finally ceramic and now wood objects.
I try to make functional objects that are of a high aesthetic standard, pieces that people will want to hold - at fair we have a sign that goes predominantly at our table saying "Please touch us, thank you; The Vessels/Objects" - and it works.
I am presently make resin objects (about 75% of my time) and solid wood objects. I get Russian Olive, Popular and Ash and Elm. The most plentiful being Russian Olive - which is a difficult wood to turn with challenging grain and a tremendous amount of shrinkage as it dries. Sometimes I am lucky and get a piece or two of Mesquite. I have seven pieces on the go all with resin. I attach a few of my pieces below for your viewing pleasure. As I learning in Art School critique is difficult a it needs to be objective - just saying Oh I don't like that - isn't critique it is opinion I do welcome your critique and opinion. Critique I will reply to a opinion gets a simple "Thanks".
WWWWWWWWWWWW
So my best wishes to all of you and keep on turning.
Alan
PS I would be happy to provide details on each piece. They range in size from 7 inches to 17 inches high. I use Alumilite and presently I use the "Amazing Deep Pour" brand but have tried several other types.
Alan
I am new to AAW forums, but with twenty years of turning to under my belt. I was a potter before this for about 20 years too, arthritis cut my potting short.
I love wood and how it feels, smells and looks. I recently moved to the Mojave Desert (Sandy Valley) pros leaving the snow and ice of the Canadian north east (Nova Scotia) and on the con side leaving a boundless source of hardwoods and softwoods alike. I am looking forward to participating in these forums getting honest critique of my work and helpful hints of what is smart to do and what is questionable in what I do. In moving I had to relocate my studio which required building two car garage and fitting the inside with electricity and power and drywalling. Well I completed that about 1.5 years back and have been working finding suitable woods to turn. I do buy imported hardwood, but they are so expensive that sales difficult, even to just reclaim the price of wood. I am fortunate that a small gallery in Idyllwild in the in the San Jacinto mountains carries some of my work.
The Pandemic has slowed sales of my work, and my online teaching has greatly declined over the past two years a people appear to be pausing their educations. I had thought with lock downs that online education would have increased at the established providers but as one of my T shirts says (the one i am wearing now) "I may be wrong' BUT it is highly unlikely"! LOL!
Going in reverse a few years back I went back to school and completed a two year degree in "Studio Practice" at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design University. The certificate was great fun as I got o hangout with YOUNG people trying to be artists and I got to talk to a get advice from established Canadian artists. As an unexpected bonus I took several Art History courses which I really enjoyed, now when we visit Europe I pretty well live in art galleries, big and small.
Other education - a doctorate in Economics and Ethics, both subject which I taught for many years after completing that degree. A Master of Management and a BSc, (Honours) in Ecology - Botany. As a working professional I consulted in business management (mainly small businesses), managed a program in "Small Business Management" for the Yukon Government. I have served on many boards and committees, most notable as Chairman of a Public Utility Board. During all my education and work time I continued to "make' things, wooden, plaster sculptures, paintings and finally ceramic and now wood objects.
I try to make functional objects that are of a high aesthetic standard, pieces that people will want to hold - at fair we have a sign that goes predominantly at our table saying "Please touch us, thank you; The Vessels/Objects" - and it works.
I am presently make resin objects (about 75% of my time) and solid wood objects. I get Russian Olive, Popular and Ash and Elm. The most plentiful being Russian Olive - which is a difficult wood to turn with challenging grain and a tremendous amount of shrinkage as it dries. Sometimes I am lucky and get a piece or two of Mesquite. I have seven pieces on the go all with resin. I attach a few of my pieces below for your viewing pleasure. As I learning in Art School critique is difficult a it needs to be objective - just saying Oh I don't like that - isn't critique it is opinion I do welcome your critique and opinion. Critique I will reply to a opinion gets a simple "Thanks".
WWWWWWWWWWWW
So my best wishes to all of you and keep on turning.
Alan
PS I would be happy to provide details on each piece. They range in size from 7 inches to 17 inches high. I use Alumilite and presently I use the "Amazing Deep Pour" brand but have tried several other types.
Alan