Differentiation

Developing my own style - "finding (my own) voice" as the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen puts it - was (and is) one of the most interesting challenges I've faced as a woodturner.  The idea is to have a clearly defined style such that an informed collector can immediately recognize a piece as yours.  For example: Cindy Drozda (www.cindydrozda.com) is known for her unique lidded box finials; David Ellsworth (www.ellsworthstudios.com) for his pioneering work with hollow forms; Kim Blatt (www.kimblattwoodturning.com) for his marvelous wall hangings.  The list goes on....

To put this into perspective, these well-known artists certainly do not limit themselves to the types of work mentioned.  Rather, they - like most folks who stand behind a lathe - express themselves in a variety of works.  (Check out their websites and you'll see what I mean.)

In my case, lidded boxes are a special favorite. In woodturning, a "box" is really more like a cup with some type of lid.

Because it's formed by being spun in a single axis on the lathe, it's obviously round. However, if one considers turning a box on different axes, the box will naturally take on different shapes.  Ellipses immediately come to mind.  But what would happen if one started with a rectangular piece of wood and formed the sides first? Then hollowed the box?  Thus my "Acorn Series" lidded boxes were born.  Named for the acorn motif embedded in their finials, this series is - I believe - unique.  I continue to experiment with this form and the more I delve into it, the more possibilities I see.  Examples are for sale in my supporting galleries, on my Etsy store (see the "Work for Sale" link) and directly though me at Brad@turningarts.com.  I hope you enjoy these forms as much as I enjoy creating them!

"Woodfire" - Acorn Series Lidded Box

 - Brad Sears
Copyright (c) 2009 by Brad Sears Fine Woodturning
This post may be freely linked-to or quoted with attribution to the author