Between hurricanes, for fun I'll nail up some heretical theses (aka my
semi-annual rants) for beginners to consider and for others to oppose.

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1. Leif suggested "hybrid' as a term for 'not bowls'. I had thought of
using a fancier term, "bowle" if the piece can't hold its water.

2. Nothing shouts "Great craft show-No art museum" louder than
excessive attention to decoration and finish of vessel bottoms. They
have their rightful place, but what would be your reaction to an
engraved rural scene on a Revere bowl bottom? A sculpted marble
medallion on David's nether parts? A floral pattern on the flipside of
a wedgewood plate? Connected dots behind 'Whistler's Mother"? A
toothy grin on a a two faced "Mona Lisa"? Answer: very nice, but not
as pretty as a hunting scene done in velvets of primary colors!

3. A major cause of the catches that morph our pieces from craft into
art is the 'waving gouge'. However, fluid tool movements are essential
and should be learned from the beginning. Tool movements learned from
books are often digital instead of analog and are habits hard to
unlearn.

4. From the beginning, make flats, tapers, coves, beads, fair curves and
hollows without much thought and care. Catches and calamity will
happen, but if you think form not technique, catches will become seldom.
That said, do put the tool on the rest before putting its edge on the
wood, and stay on your side of the rest.

5. It's nice to be able to turn a brickbat into a lovely wooden vessel
with thick walls, a wide mouth, straight sides and rough tearouts. Even
if they are beloved and sell well to the discriminating non-turning
public it isn't a necessary talent for success. Furthermore, it is ok to
make narrow openings into hollow forms instead of the more acceptable
gluing two hollowed halves together. As for laser guides, vacuum chucks
and other rites of passage, don't let anyone here tell you that it's
your choice. You must have them.
6. Five is enough! Hope they helped.

Arch

Fortiter,


http://community.webtv.net/almcc/MacsMusings