The
Art of Turned Bowls
Designing Bowls with a World-Class Turner
by Richard Raffan
Softcover
215 x 275mm
160pp
Published by The Taunton Press, Connecticut, USA.
R.R.P.$29.90
ISBN 978-1-56158-954-8
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 144
Bowls are often among the first projects attempted by the novice woodturner. At that stage in the student's development, they may appear a relatively easy place to start. They probably are - but the turned bowl as a work of art is something else again.
The student must first master the craft of bowl making, ensuring that the result is always due to planning and process not to mere chance. Then the focus must change to consider variations of shape and perhaps decoration.
The path to success becomes more difficult, for there are fewer 'rules'. There is more freedom of expression, but with that freedom comes greater opportunities for failure.
The Art of Turned Bowls, Richard Raffan's latest book, provides the guidance necessary to avoid many, if not most, of the pitfalls.
Richard will need no introduction to most readers. An internationally recognised woodturner, he is the author of several well known woodturning books.
Here, however, his treatment of the subject appears more personal than in any of his previous books. Perhaps it is the subjective nature of design that leads him to discuss his views with the reader, pointing out his own preferences and revealing the ways in which he approaches his work.
The book begins with chapters that cover the choice of wood and the preparation of blanks. Richard then launches into the matter of design with a chapter on Form which he subtitles: The Good, the Bad and the Sublime.
The text is amply illustrated and the reader is sure to profit from the author's observations on form which are provided in a series of diagrams: Footed Forms, Profiles from Arcs, Outflowing Forms, Shallow Outflowing Forms, Shallow Curves, Rolled Over Rims, Ogee Curves, Rolled Over Rims on Ogees, Shallow Ogee Profiles, Enclosed Forms, Enclosed Forms on Round Bases, Footed Enclosed Forms, Enclosed Ogees and Combined Curves.
The latter part of this chapter is devoted to Profile Templates which, says Richard, should be actually used since this practice will aid in training the eye to achieve the desired shapes.
The fourth chapter deals with Walls, Rims and Bases, while the fifth covers green turning.
The last two chapters introduce Surface Decoration and Decorative Reshaping.
While the book should be useful to practically anyone involved in woodturning, it will appeal particularly to those who not satisfied with the aesthetic quality of their work and who are looking for assistance in furthering their woodturning ambitions.
Photos: Colour
Units of Measurement: Imperial & Metric
Contents
Introduction
Wood
What
to Look For and Where to Find It
Preparing
Blanks
From Log to Lathe
Form
The
Good, the Bad and the Sublime
Walls,
Rims and Bases
Bowls that Feel as Good as They Look
Green-Turned
Bowls
Working with Warp
Surface
Decoration
Detailing, Coloring, Burning, Sandblasting
Decorative
Reshaping
Carved, Pierced, Hacked, Hewed and Joined
Further
Reading
Photo Credits
Index