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
Full Name: Samuel Joseph Angelo
What is, or was your main job? In 1973 I began a career in education. My experience as a teacher began in a one-room schoolhouse in southeastern Montana. I taught grades 1-8 with 12 students in school. My school was 65 miles from any town. I lived in a teacherage with no running water. I continued in various settings which included a Catholic parochial school and the Montana state reform school for boys. Somewhere in that mix I served a term as Custer County Superintendent of School. In this position my duties included supervision of 17 rural, one-room schools in Custer County, Montana. In 1980 I accepted a position teaching history at Worland High School. For the better part of my 40 year career I coached various sports. For my remaining 25 years I served as a school guidance counsellor. I have been retired since 2010.
Are you a professional turner, hobby turner or something else? 
A “Fairy Forest” ornament.
ABOUT YOUR WORKSHOP
I started by preparing a spalted Sycamore blank for the seed pod, with a tenon on both ends. After mounting in my chuck I drilled a 12mm / ½ inch recess to receive the tail section later. After reversing the blank in the chuck I then proceeded to turn and hollow the seed pod shape, leaving a thicker rim for a little bit of carving. On this pod I shaped the ‘leaves’ around the opening in relief unlike previous ones.
chuck I drew my intended tail shape on one side and one edge, then cut the waste material away.
Dura-Grit
