Lava ‘Eruption’ Inspiration
This lava inspired hollow form is dedicated to my wonderful Step-Daughter, Hannah, for graduating this week from Bristol University with her second degree, Master of Science in Vulcanology.
Vulca-what?? I hear you cry. Vulcanology: the study of volcanoes.
Well done Hannah!
Hollow Form Inspired By Lava
The base of the vessel was turned from spalted Sycamore. The blank came from stock I harvested in 2014. The piece is styled in a slightly Japanese fashion, introduced to me by Mark Sanger during a two-day workshop in the summer of 2016. I will be offering a review of the session (somewhat late) in a future post.
The finial is turned from a piece of ash, chosen for its prominent grain pattern, which I hoped would enhance the ‘flame’ aspect of the piece. I am aware that the finial isn’t quite as elegant as might be expected, but there was madness in my method. I wanted a little more wood towards the tip in order to carry the colour up and continue the feel of ‘explosive lava’. I was also considerate of the fact that Hannah, though incredibly brilliant in achieving, is horrendously clumsy and would likely break anything finer! In my mind I carved the tip of the finial into a ‘flame pattern’. In reality, I felt an attempt to carve would ruin the piece!
Lava Hollow Form with Threaded Finial
Joining the two parts together is a hand threaded boxwood plug, used since neither sycamore or ash can be hand chased. This is a method I have used previously. Though this paired plug was turned specifically for this piece, I have previously turned a number of matched pairs and saved them for future projects.
I turned a couple of similar shaped pieces in the ‘run up’ to this one in order to fine tune the shape I wanted. The very first one I turned, with Mark Sanger, was used as a canvass for different texturing techniques.
A practice piece before the final Lava Form. Interesting warping!
Texture Exercise, With Mark Sanger
