There are a large number of very worthy pieces to choose from today (this week). My short list was not so short. But, when I looked at all of the pieces holistically (form, finish, timber, photograph, "howdyadothat factor", technical prowess), "Levitate" by Dave Landers rose to the top.
I've been a big fan of Dave's work since I joined the forum. His three-piece burl goblets stick out in my mind, and this piece is an extension of that. We get a fantastic natural edge hole that lets us view the interior. On top of that, I appreciate how Dave left some of the burl eyes on the surface surrounding the opening. This is a great contrast to the smooth surface of the rest of the vessel. The vessel has a nice, flowing shape--one of the benefits of a piece like this is that the curve flows uninterrupted along the bottom. Of course, the challenge with that is mounting. There are many options, but Dave chose a clever method. I'm impressed with how perfectly straight the levitating vessel is--any sort of deviation would tarnish the effect. There is a smooth flow from the curved mount to the finial, and I appreciate that Dave shared his protocol in the comments. The dye job of the finial and the mounting piece perfectly juxtaposes the light color of the Maple. Lastly, the base itself is very interesting. It's just substantial enough to provide stability, yet it is also oriented in a very interesting way. This isn't a piece that you glance at and move on. You study it, take it in, investigate, and marvel.
Great work, Dave. Cheers!
I've been a big fan of Dave's work since I joined the forum. His three-piece burl goblets stick out in my mind, and this piece is an extension of that. We get a fantastic natural edge hole that lets us view the interior. On top of that, I appreciate how Dave left some of the burl eyes on the surface surrounding the opening. This is a great contrast to the smooth surface of the rest of the vessel. The vessel has a nice, flowing shape--one of the benefits of a piece like this is that the curve flows uninterrupted along the bottom. Of course, the challenge with that is mounting. There are many options, but Dave chose a clever method. I'm impressed with how perfectly straight the levitating vessel is--any sort of deviation would tarnish the effect. There is a smooth flow from the curved mount to the finial, and I appreciate that Dave shared his protocol in the comments. The dye job of the finial and the mounting piece perfectly juxtaposes the light color of the Maple. Lastly, the base itself is very interesting. It's just substantial enough to provide stability, yet it is also oriented in a very interesting way. This isn't a piece that you glance at and move on. You study it, take it in, investigate, and marvel.
Great work, Dave. Cheers!
