Donna Banfield
TOTW Team
Having just returned from the AAW Symposium in Portland, OR, I have been in the presence of some of the finest turned wood - utilitarian and art - from all over the world.
As a recent demonstrator in Portland, OR for the AAW's Annual International Symposium, with a rotation focusing on turning a good form, John Shannon's Walnut Bowl is a great example of a well-turned form. John has achieved a continuous curve from rim to foot, with no flats that I can see. The tuck at the bottom, with a small foot, gives the bowl just a bit of lift off the table or surface, casting that small circular shadow. I'm not an expert on the calabash form, but this certainly looks very close. The slight return on the rim leads your eye inward, inviting you to take a look inside. And I'm sure you'll want to. He also mounted the blank on the lathe to ensure that the rings are symmetrically balanced. You can see how the rings all flow smoothly and uniformly on the exterior. This small but essential detail helps to create the nicely turned and finished form. If one could look inside, you would probably see that the smallest of the rings are centered at the very bottom of the bowl, making this a visual treat.
A bowl can be a work of art when it is well-turned and pure of form. My choice for Turning of the Week, May 27, 2024
As a recent demonstrator in Portland, OR for the AAW's Annual International Symposium, with a rotation focusing on turning a good form, John Shannon's Walnut Bowl is a great example of a well-turned form. John has achieved a continuous curve from rim to foot, with no flats that I can see. The tuck at the bottom, with a small foot, gives the bowl just a bit of lift off the table or surface, casting that small circular shadow. I'm not an expert on the calabash form, but this certainly looks very close. The slight return on the rim leads your eye inward, inviting you to take a look inside. And I'm sure you'll want to. He also mounted the blank on the lathe to ensure that the rings are symmetrically balanced. You can see how the rings all flow smoothly and uniformly on the exterior. This small but essential detail helps to create the nicely turned and finished form. If one could look inside, you would probably see that the smallest of the rings are centered at the very bottom of the bowl, making this a visual treat.
A bowl can be a work of art when it is well-turned and pure of form. My choice for Turning of the Week, May 27, 2024
