Steve Worcester
Admin Emeritus
The results are in, our judge, Keith Gotschall, has picked his winner and here are the results with comments
After looking through all the entries, I realized that I had to draw up some guidelines for myself if I was going to judge anything. They were all very good, and that made it pretty tough. My congratulations to all the submitting turners. I looked at the rules and #2 on the list says that the article was a starting point, so that was my benchmark. I was looking for turnings that used the technique that I wrote about, but that then took that idea further. There were other turnings that used other techniques and they are all valid of course.
In a different contest, with a different aim, I might just have a new set of "winners". Be that as it may, there were turners here that did exactly what I wanted to see and I applaud their efforts, my choices
are:
First place- Dick Kelly
Second- Kefferpl
Third- Garmar
Bernie- Interesting use of flawed wood, goes well with the burned treatment. I like the simplicity of the single detail. One suggestion, it might have been better if the bowl had just touched the detail. In the photo it looks like it overlaps and seems to push the detail out.
Kefferpl- Great use of technique showing your own use, bringing your own style to the project. I wonder about the transition from rim to bowl. I actually like the way the leaf tips bend into the bowl, but a softer transition between the two planes of rim and bowl bottom would have been better..... or keep the leaves, tips and all, just on the rim. The piercing was a nice touch that really makes it look completely different and lightens up that heavy overhanging rim.
Bill Pottorf- Nice use of the chuck. Very restrained and crisp. Your turning really appeals to me, the details are nice and crisp and the black plays off well with the cedar. Not using the same technique makes it hard to compare, if I had used a different criteria for judging, this would have done very well. Over all nice form and good execution. How close was this to the other platters you've seen? Just curious.
Barbara Gill- Good use of figured wood with a detailed design, it doesn't always work having a busy wood with busy details. Looks like you cut into the outside bead, I might have taken that last bead out too. In doing so you might have evened up the beads a little, though I realize the outside of your bowl area might not have let you do so. You seem to have the technique down, so what's next?! How can you experiment and change the design to suit your tastes?
Clifton C- Nice! I like it very much. Good to see some new ideas. Simple form, yet some exciting visual details. I can't quite make out what is happening with the base. I like that it looks like a separate piece sitting on the turned base, is it one piece? You have handled the off center turning well. Crispness is something I look for.
Garmar- Terrific job! I really enjoy how you have subtly changed some of the details from the article and come up with a very different feeling piece. I looks like the bowl met up with the outside detail well. Hard to tell about the flat part of the rim, might have been better done, a little crisper, but like I said it is hard to tell from the image I have. I am also curious about the underside and how that relates to the top surface. I think a wider bowl, even if it was heavier would make a strong form.
Sterling Sanders- Wonderful turning. Very strong and pleasing visuals. You used a different technique... maybe there is an article there? As one poster said you have strong visual motion, and the title is entirely appropriate. I loved your use of copper, I am a real sucker for it. I would have liked to see crisper details on the outer crescents, your inner shapes have more definition, a hard arris, and I respond better to that than the more rounded shapes. Can't wait to see the next one!
Dick Kelly- Wow! Wonderful! Dick, you took the idea and put your own spin on it, and that is really exciting. The off-center rim gave you a great place to play with your narrative, and I always enjoy a good pun (visual or verbal) At first glance I wondered about the strong streaks going through your composition but then I got it. The transparent color was a good choice as your carving was simple (Not a criticism!). The colors seem to make it sort of cartoonish to me, and I love that. This is a very strong turning, which is why I chose it as first place.
Here was the posting with the entrants
http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=3744
After looking through all the entries, I realized that I had to draw up some guidelines for myself if I was going to judge anything. They were all very good, and that made it pretty tough. My congratulations to all the submitting turners. I looked at the rules and #2 on the list says that the article was a starting point, so that was my benchmark. I was looking for turnings that used the technique that I wrote about, but that then took that idea further. There were other turnings that used other techniques and they are all valid of course.
In a different contest, with a different aim, I might just have a new set of "winners". Be that as it may, there were turners here that did exactly what I wanted to see and I applaud their efforts, my choices
are:
First place- Dick Kelly
Second- Kefferpl
Third- Garmar
Bernie- Interesting use of flawed wood, goes well with the burned treatment. I like the simplicity of the single detail. One suggestion, it might have been better if the bowl had just touched the detail. In the photo it looks like it overlaps and seems to push the detail out.
Kefferpl- Great use of technique showing your own use, bringing your own style to the project. I wonder about the transition from rim to bowl. I actually like the way the leaf tips bend into the bowl, but a softer transition between the two planes of rim and bowl bottom would have been better..... or keep the leaves, tips and all, just on the rim. The piercing was a nice touch that really makes it look completely different and lightens up that heavy overhanging rim.
Bill Pottorf- Nice use of the chuck. Very restrained and crisp. Your turning really appeals to me, the details are nice and crisp and the black plays off well with the cedar. Not using the same technique makes it hard to compare, if I had used a different criteria for judging, this would have done very well. Over all nice form and good execution. How close was this to the other platters you've seen? Just curious.
Barbara Gill- Good use of figured wood with a detailed design, it doesn't always work having a busy wood with busy details. Looks like you cut into the outside bead, I might have taken that last bead out too. In doing so you might have evened up the beads a little, though I realize the outside of your bowl area might not have let you do so. You seem to have the technique down, so what's next?! How can you experiment and change the design to suit your tastes?
Clifton C- Nice! I like it very much. Good to see some new ideas. Simple form, yet some exciting visual details. I can't quite make out what is happening with the base. I like that it looks like a separate piece sitting on the turned base, is it one piece? You have handled the off center turning well. Crispness is something I look for.
Garmar- Terrific job! I really enjoy how you have subtly changed some of the details from the article and come up with a very different feeling piece. I looks like the bowl met up with the outside detail well. Hard to tell about the flat part of the rim, might have been better done, a little crisper, but like I said it is hard to tell from the image I have. I am also curious about the underside and how that relates to the top surface. I think a wider bowl, even if it was heavier would make a strong form.
Sterling Sanders- Wonderful turning. Very strong and pleasing visuals. You used a different technique... maybe there is an article there? As one poster said you have strong visual motion, and the title is entirely appropriate. I loved your use of copper, I am a real sucker for it. I would have liked to see crisper details on the outer crescents, your inner shapes have more definition, a hard arris, and I respond better to that than the more rounded shapes. Can't wait to see the next one!
Dick Kelly- Wow! Wonderful! Dick, you took the idea and put your own spin on it, and that is really exciting. The off-center rim gave you a great place to play with your narrative, and I always enjoy a good pun (visual or verbal) At first glance I wondered about the strong streaks going through your composition but then I got it. The transparent color was a good choice as your carving was simple (Not a criticism!). The colors seem to make it sort of cartoonish to me, and I love that. This is a very strong turning, which is why I chose it as first place.
Here was the posting with the entrants
http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=3744
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