Every time my turn comes around (puns not intended) to choose a featured turning, I always get a bit nervous. Is my choice appropriate? Will I offend the non-chosen? And soon, and so on. This week, as with others, there are myriad worthy pieces. However, my eye was drawn to one just a bit more than others.
Checkerbowl (3rd variant) by Paul May is a wonderful piece. The form is great: a nice continuous curve that oh-so-subtly relaxes at the rim. A slightly downward-sloping rim that meets the interior with a crisp edge. This abrupt change of surface planes really enhances the closed form calabash's undercut, and accentuates the thinness of the vessel's walls. It is also a nice contrast to the gently rounded edge where the exterior meets the rim. I can't see the bottom of the bowl, but I suspect there is a small flat/divot--it's small enough so that in photo the curve remains uninterrupted.
Adding to all of this, the segmented construction takes this bowl over the top. If you haven't done so, take a look at Paul's AAW forum album. You'll see that he has a keen eye for color combinations and patterns. Often his turnings have include a little surprise on the interior (a compass rose comes to mind). Though there may not be a surprise with this bowl, the timber choices are perfect. The majority of the segments have a wave-like character to their grain, which give a nice sense of circular motion to the bowl. The accents (Purpleheart on the rim, and Ebony lining the feature ring, are crisp and nicely contrasted, though the Purpleheart might blend in with the Leopardwood in a couple of decades (that's a half joke). And the feature-ring itself is awesome! I love the tilted checkerboards so much, and the choice to include a thin connecting band is perfect. I also appreciate the non-glossy finish of the bowl.
Above all else Paul, I also appreciate your tenacity regarding "finding the calabash form". In my opinion, this is the best one yet of the pieces you have posted. Made even cooler that this is part of an ongoing series. Way to top yourself! It's my please to choose your latest Checkerbowl for this week's featured turning. Nice work--keep them coming!
Checkerbowl (3rd variant) by Paul May is a wonderful piece. The form is great: a nice continuous curve that oh-so-subtly relaxes at the rim. A slightly downward-sloping rim that meets the interior with a crisp edge. This abrupt change of surface planes really enhances the closed form calabash's undercut, and accentuates the thinness of the vessel's walls. It is also a nice contrast to the gently rounded edge where the exterior meets the rim. I can't see the bottom of the bowl, but I suspect there is a small flat/divot--it's small enough so that in photo the curve remains uninterrupted.
Adding to all of this, the segmented construction takes this bowl over the top. If you haven't done so, take a look at Paul's AAW forum album. You'll see that he has a keen eye for color combinations and patterns. Often his turnings have include a little surprise on the interior (a compass rose comes to mind). Though there may not be a surprise with this bowl, the timber choices are perfect. The majority of the segments have a wave-like character to their grain, which give a nice sense of circular motion to the bowl. The accents (Purpleheart on the rim, and Ebony lining the feature ring, are crisp and nicely contrasted, though the Purpleheart might blend in with the Leopardwood in a couple of decades (that's a half joke). And the feature-ring itself is awesome! I love the tilted checkerboards so much, and the choice to include a thin connecting band is perfect. I also appreciate the non-glossy finish of the bowl.
Above all else Paul, I also appreciate your tenacity regarding "finding the calabash form". In my opinion, this is the best one yet of the pieces you have posted. Made even cooler that this is part of an ongoing series. Way to top yourself! It's my please to choose your latest Checkerbowl for this week's featured turning. Nice work--keep them coming!
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