My old fishing cottage is now surrounded by the waterfront McMansions of
the nouveau riche so my address is included for all the freebee slick
enamelled high fashion and upscale architecture and interior decorator
magazines from Palm Beach & environs.

Like any law abiding woodturner, I only look at the furnishings,
particularly the decorative art; vases, bowls, lamps etc. Anyway, the
anatomy of the cadaverous models not to mention their ridiculous
clothes, ghastly cosmetics and strange posture does nothing for me and I
couldn't afford to heat or cool such huge houses.

Although most of this high end shelf and table art is ceramic, for the
most part it could easily be spindle turned in wood. Whether thin walled
or hollowed doesn't seem to matter, since the only time I've seen one
looked at, picked up or held was for dusting by the maid. She didn't
seem to care much either. I did see someone looking at a fancy lamp
once. Probably looking for the switch.

These decorative pieces are amazingly expensive and I'm sure they
weren't born in a golden rectangle or grew up obeying the rule of
thirds. They _are different from the work you and I make as seen in pic
forums, show & tells and craft fairs.

I wonder if turners living near silk stocking areas wouldn't do better
by making friends and dealing with interior decorators instead of
galleries and gift shops.

Art or not, it might be more lucrative to copy these upscale ceramic
forms than to follow the rules for turned wood design. Don't repeat what
is already being done. Seems like breaking rules gets you further along
these days. Unusual external form and finish is the order of the day.
Like the shapeless form, sunken eyes and outlandish 'haute couture' (I
looked it up) of the models, high end 'table art' isn't what most of us
usually turn, but it might sell at a much higher price.

Goodby thin walls and hollow forms. hello grotesque shapes and garish
colors, so long Jaques C. Pennae' and Targette', hi there Chi Chi and
the girls; make friends with a decorator and sharpen your spindle
gouges, skews and prices guys. It's time for the average woodturner's
work to invade the mansions of the rich and famous. Their trophy wives
won't know the difference or care.


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter


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