Decorative Bowls - My Pyromaniac side got the best of me

[Steve Huffman]

I had some Aspen bowls laying around here for a while that were plain looking, not really any color, knots, or markings, kind of white looking plain jane. So I thought it was a good excuse to get the torch out, wood burner, and some other texturing tools and dress them up a bit. I'm pleased with the torching and coloring, but I have to admit, this is a tricky process and made a mistake on the one with green leaves. I stayed on it too long, over heated and it shrank a bit on the edge. OK, lesson learned, torch a bit, then let it cool, then do follow ups if needed. Keep that torch moving too like your painting with a spray can. It was fun trying something new and different.

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Bowl #1 - Textured inside and rim, gold tipped inside, carved outer edge with foredom carver tool, torch burned and finished in spray lacquer.
Bowl #2 - Wood burned leaves, airbrushed transparent med. green for color, torch burned and finished in spray lacquer.
Bowl #3 - This is more of a plate than bowl. Sorby texture tool on edge, pyroed Monarch butterfly, airbrushed a little brown mahogany coloring on butterfly and outer edge.

[Bob Dupras]

Those are great! I can't decide which one I like the best. OK, I guess I like the leaf bowl the best. But there are details of all of them that catch my eye. How big are they?

[Dennis Ford]

Very nice work on the turning, enhancements and photos.

[Mel Fulks]

All lovely, I have a new respect for aspen. Like number 1 the most just because it seems more formal and ,at least in that photo , has an interesting effect going on that lets it look alternately like inside of bowl and outside.

[Thom Sturgill]

Beautiful! I love the butterfly and the leaves. Not so much the geometric center in the first bowl. Great treatments.

[Thomas Heck]

All those are nice pieces. But, I like the one with the leaves the best. Great work.

[daryl moses]

Wow Steve, those are awesome!! The torch and airbrush really added to an otherwise plain piece of wood.
The butterfly is my favorite.

[Doug Herzberg]

All very nice and creative. I like the butterfly best.

[David Delo]

Looks like blue ribbon territory to me. Fantastic piece Steve.

[nelson lasaosa]

All nice, but I settle for the 2nd and 4th .... didn´t you have any issues with cracking while burning the Wood ?

[Mike Tilley]

Very nice never tried burning but after seeing those may put it on my bucket list.
What did you use as a finish? Nice job

[Steve Huffman]

Thanks all for the very nice compliment!

Those are great! I can't decide which one I like the best. OK, I guess I like the leaf bowl the best. But there are details of all of them that catch my eye. How big are they?

Sorry I left that out and they are at my shop in town. Green leaves is the largest at about 12 inch. First bowl 9, maybe 10 inch, and butterfly is small, around 7 inch.

All nice, but I settle for the 2nd and 4th .... didn´t you have any issues with cracking while burning the Wood ?

No cracking, but I did damage the edge of the green leaf one and it left a dented spot. Too much heat as once. Aspen is pretty forgiving wood too and these are my first attempts at torching.

Very nice never tried burning but after seeing those may put it on my bucket list.
What did you use as a finish? Nice job

I used spray lacquer on all of these and most of my projects. I'm just starting to use other finishes too, like tung oil, linseed oil, just to try other things.

[Curtis Myers]

I really like the butterfly platter

[William C Rogers]

All are amazing. I like the leaves and butterfly. I wish I had those skills.

[Michelle Rich]

I like color, so the bold green is neat..and i luv that butterfly!