12x4 pecan bowl with copper inlays.  Twice turned, crotch wood, immediately seized and disappeared by Mrs. Boss. 

 

 

 

 

.40

Man O Man! Who could blame the missus for glomming on to that beauty!!! That's one gorgeous bowl! You sure done that pecan tree proud.

Edited December 4, 20214 yr by Gene Howe

That’s absolutely gorgeous! The two colors really compliment each other. 

Cool beans.  I like it.  Copper is nice and smooth.

Great looking piece @forty_caliber.  So would this bowl be rough turned, exposing the voids, then the copper is added and then finished turned?

1 hour ago, DuckSoup said:

Great looking piece @forty_caliber.  So would this bowl be rough turned, exposing the voids, then the copper is added and then finished turned?

Yes.  Here is a photo of the rough turned stage.  Taken 9/12.  I added the inlay after removing about 1/2 the total amount of material into the 2nd turning. 

 

Used "cold casting" to add the inlay.  Since there were large voids I used 30 minute epoxy mixed into a putty with fine copper powder.  Made dams out of duct tape to hold the epoxy in place while drying.  Smaller voids can be filled with the copper powder and CA glue in much the same way. 

 

 

.40

That's a pretty bowl!!

 

Spectacular "40". You did that chunk of wood sweet justice. Well done.

Thanks for sharing with everyone.

 Thanks Forty for clearing that up. My brain wasn't thinking epoxy but that makes more sense now.

Can I honestly say that filler ruins the looks of the beautiful wood bowl. Sorry but I have to be honest!

Sorry to be blunt but what does a person see first when looking at your bowl. Its the wood grain than catches the eye right away. Its the beautiful natural curves that only nature can produce.. plus the color combinations that are always present for nature don't know anything but beauty. And if a person gazes long enough there is something there that is pulling the eyes down to one point. Something that is unnatural to that type of surroundings. Same thing happens when guys gets a bright thought and here goes the blue green epoxy.

  I am the worlds worse person when it comes time to add a finish to whatever I just built...And here, most of the time it is the time just to go with a clear finish which will always make what ever he just built add more smiles to that persons insides.... but no I always want more that I can get out of all my projects.

   If you was to have another bowl exactly like that bowl and make that part of the missing knot a dark brownish color and even mix some epoxy with dark streaks that still can be seen in the mix and don't keep mixing where it becomes one shade I am certain your knot will help show off the rest of your bowl and not give off that thought of no I couldn't figure out what to do with this knot so I will make it ugly and torture every one who looks at my bowl?????   

 

57 minutes ago, Smallpatch said:

Sorry to be blunt but what does a person see first when looking at your bowl. Its the wood grain than catches the eye right away. Its the beautiful natural curves that only nature can produce.. plus the color combinations that are always present for nature don't know anything but beauty.

This is something we all see as woodturners. I like to add color to some pieces with dye much as you paint your creations, but in some pieces the wood is too great to cover that way. This also depends on the purpose of the piece. Almost all of the Beads of Courage Bowls I do are dyed. So it is partly preference and partly intended use.

Some woods i.e. mesquite, absolutely require fillers. As @Gerald said about dyes, what fillers used is a matter of preference an intended use. Most of my attempts to match the filler to the wood have resulted in failure. So, a long time ago, I gave up and, decided that nature's flaws were there to give me an opportunity to play around with different materials. I've used colored resin alone, powdered metals with resin, turquoise powder and, stone, brass leavings from key makers, dental silver, Feldspar and just, found stone. 

It's all fun!

So you would rather admit to the world this area is where you failed. Kinda like you take your car with a dented fender to the body shop for a repair. You are real proud of this car for its the first new car you ever owned and can't wait to get it back..... but when you see your nice shiny car the repaired fender or the half that was dented is now a completely different color??? you ask the body man what gives and he said its the best I could do.

    So I ask, why advertise your failings and faults for it takes away from the area you didn't screw up!

I don't think there is any right or wrong way to celebrate what mother nature has provided. As @Gerald said, it depends on the function of the piece. I subscribe to the old adage- "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I personally don't see any technique as a failure of the artist's abilities- just a different way to enhance what we are given.

That is one awesome job on that piece of pecan. It appears to be the top of the trunk. That is a classic shape and of museum quality. I am struck with awe as to what you were able to do. Thanks for showing and explaining.

4 hours ago, Smallpatch said:

So you would rather admit to the world this area is where you failed. Kinda like you take your car with a dented fender to the body shop for a repair. You are real proud of this car for its the first new car you ever owned and can't wait to get it back..... but when you see your nice shiny car the repaired fender or the half that was dented is now a completely different color??? you ask the body man what gives and he said its the best I could do.

    So I ask, why advertise your failings and faults for it takes away from the area you didn't screw up!

 

3 hours ago, lew said:

I don't think there is any right or wrong way to celebrate what mother nature has provided. As @Gerald said, it depends on the function of the piece. I subscribe to the old adage- "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". I personally don't see any technique as a failure of the artist's abilities- just a different way to enhance what we are given.

Agree, THIS^^^^^

 

Personally, I don't care for nor get Picasso's work, BUT others do and based on value it must be something to behold as often as it's imitated or attempted to be forged.

Same thing with "resto-mod" classic cars; I personally don't like them, but someone must based on their sales at auction. Same goes for "rat-rods"...why spray clear-coat over rust and deteriorating paint to "preserve?" I don't get that either, but again there is a good market for it based on prices.

 

I see what @forty_caliber has done with this bowl as a way of creatively expressing himself and deviating from the norm or expected outcome for this piece; much the same as the art lovers and car collectors. Personally, in this instance, I do like it.

 

While I think we should always be free on this forum to express what we like or dislike and to provide constructive/productive feedback, IMO, to say he failed is unfair & unfounded.

 

I don't post for "atta boys"/perfect job/well done etc. I do appreciate and value everyone's input, critique and suggestions to make changes or next time consider ????, or correct an error in my posts, but, to tell me I failed, is not productive nor certainly a way to draw others to share or participate. Just my $.02 which includes the $.03 tax.

 

Anyways, Patch, just hope you were having an off-day from the post above. We all do...well at least I do; more lately than every before BTW. You have been and continue to be a much valued contributor to this site. Your expressive and artistic work is amazing. Not all is to my personal preference, but the quality and craftsmanship in undeniable. We all are worse critics.

 

Lew all my days must be off days. But I see no reason to not be able to express myself so if thats an off day so be it. Every thing I post here I encourage all to give their honest opinion for I feel that is the only true way to let me know if I'm making head way in what I build.

   Also if I can see what a person should do instead of then I'm thinking this is why they are posting their projects