Black Cherry Vase

Randy, l like your vase. This is where l struggle. If you consider the bottom section separately, it fits the "formula". Does the large mass of the neck put things out of proportion? Would l like this vase more with a much shorter neck? Should the large diameter be raised to increase the mass of the bottom 2/3? That could change the grain orientation. Now my head hurts! I suspect that is why you are asking for comments. I'm not saying that l would do anything different. I'm saying that l would be asking myself "Should l have done something different?"

Randy, this one looks pretty darn good to my eye. The neck might be better a tiny bit narrower, but maybe not.

Dean, same opinion on it. When I look around my house at ceramic and glass vases (where I got my templates) that are about this size or larger they all have wide throats relative to what I often see in wooden vases. Thinking that's a design style that suits ceramic pieces but not wood. Maybe it's because in the forming process they have to stick their hand down into the form to shape it while it spins and need the room

If I could, I'd make two changes in your form. I'd very slightly narrow the base by sharpening the curve on the bottom inch of the form and, as you mentioned, narrow the valley at the neck. Another change you could make to this type of form is to move the narrow portion of the neck a little closer to the rim to give it more of a flared appearance.

Tim, good points. I struggle a lot with the bottom sizing. I leave enough mass to let me hollow, draw lines to project where the bottom should end up, hollow to the right depth then try to shape to the lines I drew. Doesn't always work. I've done a few where the bottom is way too small and looks like it will fall over if you breath on it so I tend to drift toward a bigger base to avoid that look. Plus, there's always the fear that you might get a little to aggressive and turn into the hollow or end up with a too thin bottom. More practice.

Your spot on I think - if the narrow was a bit higher it would minimize the fat look of the neck...