I have had very little turning time for myself in the last 2 years. Between an increased work load, aging family members, aging me, and trashing my knee with accompanying surgery last summer, my "hobby" time has suffered greatly. I had started a few pieces, and then over an extended period of time I lost interest in finishing them because each had some flaw or difficulty I couldn't overcome. My new years resolution was to pull out these pieces, and finish them or burn them. So, now I have 4 finished pieces. My wife saw an announcement for a local juried show, and insisted that I enter. My paper work went in yesterday, so now I actually have pics. I'll post these in separate threads. I am sure that I won' get any feedback from the juried show, so I will ask you all for a critique. Please be honest and blunt. Even if you feel like I have embarrassed myself by entering them, please let me know. I have a few thoughts on these myself, and want to see if they match yours. I am not likely to have these pieces selected, but I have always said I would at least try this once. Naming the pieces seems to be the hardest part, so if you have any name suggestions, please let me know. I'll see if any of them were even close to what I named them.
So here is number 1. The oblate spheroid was easy, and turned out just like I wanted, but the stand was the complication. Everything I planned was to large and/or complex, taking all the attention from the turning. So I simplified, and came up with this. I think it works, but it was misery cutting the hole to fit the spheroid. It is still a little off. This is made from quilted maple. My wife keeps buying me beautiful pieces of wood, but they are not planned for anything specific, and sometimes it is a challenge to figure out what to do with them. The plank was 24" X 5" by almost 3/4. The bas is ebonized cherry.