Contemporary Turned Wood

This is written on the back of the book and I think it says it all.

The gorgeous, full-colour photographs in Contemporary Turned Wood constitute a major survey of a field rich in talent, beauty and innovation. Works were selected and commentary provided by Ray Leier, Jan Peters and Kevin Wallace, authorities in the field of turned and sculptured wood. Their insights into the vessels, boxes and sculptural forms showcased in this volume illuminate the best new work in the field.

It struck me that there was no way I could even come close to matching it, I thought it was a powerful piece of writing and I had to use it.

So what did I think, well first I flicked through the pages as if I was in a book shop browsing, at first glance the front cover although being a brilliant piece by William Hunter called Kinetic Weave 33 did not draw me in, its not the piece, its me, I'm sorry but brilliant though it is it doesn't appeal to me, probably the thought of all that sanding puts me off? However, the book is mostly pictures, and very good pictures at that, and there where a number of pieces that caught my eye. Some ideas for another day perhaps, my problem of coarse is recording this information, I think I'm going to keep a book specifically at noting such information for when I need inspiration.

There are 80 artist with around 140 pictures, some are woodturning, some carving/sculpture and some a mixture of them all. There are six chapters and each one has a page of text to explain what you are about to see, I purposely skipped the text on one chapter and went straight to the pictures, I then went back to the reading, having done this I recommend you read before you look as you will see things in a whole new light. One example is it gives a history of how the common functional bowl became a work of art to look at.

You will see probably every conceivable finish there is i.e. Texturing, Bleaching, Carving, Dyeing, Oil soaking, Spalting, Cracking and insect damage, Weathering, Burning, Sandblasting, Burnishing, Painting, Piercing and inlay. With regards to who would benefit from this book it's hard to say, there certainly are some interesting ideas there and for a novice perhaps it's more a case of appreciating the balance or pleasing to the eye of the piece rather than actually attempting to turn it, and one thing more is that most of the pieces have tittles and personally I think titles make a piece.

For me this beautiful book is a get it from a library type book rather than purchase and put with the others I have on my book shelf.

Boots - Feb 2007