Bird's Eye Elm bowl

[John Keeton]

This is another piece of wood from Mike Smith that I found while scrounging through the piles of accumulated wood. Thought I would try an "extreme" ogee curve, but it does not work - at least for me. I think the result here is evidence that a down turned rim on a bowl rarely works. But, you just don't know until you try - or, until you see someone like me try it and decide you don't have to learn on your own! I won't be doing another, but feel free to see if it works for you!

11" and wet sanded with BLO -buffed only, no finish, no wax. The rim on this one is well under 1/8" thick.

I don't like this one, and I suspect you will feel the same. Let me know if you agree!

[Roger Chandler]

Very nice form.........well executed .............from the first pic, one almost senses a flying saucer ....minus the glass dome for the martian! this would make for a great base for an arrangement..........almost like an ikebanna pot.

[Gary Max]

That's almost a WW1 army hat.

[Marty Eargle]

I think in theory, the flair that you put on the rim is a good design point, but in practice...I will agree that it either doesn't match the flow of the piece or just stands out a bit. I think the angles you photographed the bowl at do the technical aspect of it justice...but I can certainly imagine how it would look off in real life. Not to that say it isn't a masterfully done piece with some amazing wood.

For some reason, I can picture it on a tall pedestal with a flower planted in the middle with a little bird splashing around in water standing on the rim. How's that for an active imagination!

[Jack Tyree]

Great looking wood and a fine job of turning, but you are right - it doesn't work. IMHO the rim is way too wide. What would it look like if you started the curl under just outside of the top bead and curled it under with two beads like a beehive bowl, but left the bottom one open enough to get a tool under it and make it the curled one? Follow me? It's different and I've never seen it done but that could work.

[charlie knighton]

very nice, do not see this form much

[Dick Wilson]

John, I like it. If you don't want it bring it to Ohio Symposium.......I'll take it

[Jim Burr]

Other than the downward curve on the lip...it's a fine looking piece to me!

[Donny Lawson]

Great shape. I bet that curve was fun to hollow.

[Bernie Weishapl]

John you have been busy. That is a good looking bowl and the wood is really nice.

[Curt Fuller]

John, I like the outside of the form a lot. I think the downturned rim might look pretty good if the inside followed it more closely. It's also one of those great pieces of wood that looks pretty nice to me just because the wood is so interesting.

[David DeCristoforo]

I kinda understand how you feel about this one. I have attempted several times now to incorporate a "recurve" at the rim or edge of a piece and, so far, I have not make it work. The problem, as you have very clearly illustrated here, is that, while it might look really sweet from the underside, it ends up looking bulky from the top and sides. There is no way for the eye to take in the fact that there is a beautiful undercut beneath what appears to be a heavily rounded, thick rim. I'm thinking that maybe some scalloping around the edge might reveal the undercut and allow the eye to appreciate the actual shape of the rim. But I have yet to try that. Wanna contribute this to the cause of artistic exploration?

[Bob Bergstrom]

I'm afraid I have to agree with you. It appears that the rim is hiding a very nice part of the bowl. The sides are under the rim and out of site. I have made a lot of bowls that a year later I look and and shook my head, some even had glitter and and candy apple paint jobs. As you say trying and experimentation are the best way to find the best side of you abilities. Beautiful execution and workmanship.

[John Keeton]

I am glad most of us agree on this one!! I would feel pretty odd if it looked bad to me, and good to everyone else!!

I'm thinking that maybe some scalloping around the edge might reveal the undercut and allow the eye to appreciate the actual shape of the rim. But I have yet to try that. Wanna contribute this to the cause of artistic exploration?

Now, there is a thought!! I might give that a try, David. I do not have any credible manner of doing scalloped edges - have to check with Bernie. That might help this one, and I was not going to retain it anyway.

[David DeCristoforo]

"I do not have any credible manner of doing scalloped edges..."

Nor do I. The only one I have done to date was the rim on my "Black Queen" piece. I did that "freehand" with a Dremel tool. I laid out the pattern in Adobe Illustrator, printed it and glued the paper to the top of the piece. Worked OK...