OK. So you think you understand what the word "elusive" means. Maybe you think that true love is elusive. Or maybe, for you, it's achieving a higher state of consciousness. Sam Maloof used to talk about "that hard line" he often used to accentuate the curves of the chairs he was famous for. Making that hard line was easy, he would say, but making it mean something is another thing entirely. I have no idea what Sam thought that hard line meant but there was no way you can look at one of his pieces without feeling something you don't often feel when looking at a chair.
These hollow forms are like that, trying to find the "sweet spot" that makes the difference between a nice looking form and a piece of art that stirs something in the viewer. You think you have it. Just tiny little bit of adjustment… right there where it starts to curve into the bottom. You take your sharp gouge and touch it to the wood. Perfect presentation. The fine spray of shavings is almost imperceptible. But suddenly, the line is lost, the fine balance and flow vanishes right before your eyes, the magic is gone and you are left with another of a thousand "nice looking" forms.
Many have said that making a hollow form is not that difficult. With sharp gouges, basic skills, captured or articulated hollowing rigs and laser light guides, it is a turning form that is within reach of most of us. But capturing that sweet line that takes the eye on a joyful and effortless trip… that is enough to redefine the meaning of the word "elusive"! And making one of a "target size" is even more so. The form tends to get smaller and smaller as one make all of those fine "adjustments". This one is 7" in diameter and is made from the same "found" burl as the last one I posted. someone suggested this was a honey locust/mistletoe burl which sounded good to me so that's what I'm going with. This is also the thinnest one I have done with a wall thickness of just over one eighth of an inch. However, I find that I am not liking the thin wall form as much as previous ones where I left it at around a quarter of an inch. The thin one just does not have that "substantial" feel of the slightly heavier forms. Another factor that can be affected by a small change. Sanded to 1200 and wax polished.
I spent more time than I should have thinking about adding some color or making a lid and finial for it. But in the end, I decided that this was an exercise in form so I left it "as is". I still don't think I ended up with the form I envisioned. But I have another piece of this wood and it's ripe for another go.
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