Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Artists of the Limberlost Celebrate 5 Years





Please join us for the opening of the "Out of the Woods" art show on Friday, May 6, 5 to 8 pm at The Art Space or drop in May 6 though May 29. 

Five years ago Brian and I were making the final plans to move full-time to our cottage on Rebecca Lake when we got a call from Catherine O'Mara.  She had heard that Brian was a woodturner and invited him to join a few artists in the Limberlost area who were planning to develop a studio tour.  It has been an honour to be part of such a talented group of artists and a pleasure to welcome people into our studio.





Sunday, April 24, 2011

Box Elder Burl Bowl


The process of turning a beautiful burl bowl begins with a chainsaw.  Often the irregularly shaped knob from the side of the tree sits in the workshop for years until it is dry enough to turn.  Brian studies the burl and shapes it so that he can mount it on the lathe and sculpt it to its final form.


The grain of a burl is unknown until the tools begin to carve away the bark and the intricate patterns and colours are revealed.  Box elder has a very fine texture and often produces beautiful coral-coloured streaks.
















Brian decided to create a bowl shape from this burl and used a very sharp gouge to make a graceful rounded form.



Brian then flipped the burl and attached a chuck to the bottom so that he could carve out the top.  He drilled a depth-finding hole and as the lathe rotated the burl, he turned out the interior of the bowl.  Already the bark inclusions, spalting and red streaks are visible.






A few inches of bark were left on the edge of the burl and the final sanding, oiling and buffing were completed.


The finishing process can take up to a week as the bowl is allow to dry between coats of oil and then mounted on the lathe for further applications. The result is a lustrous food-safe finish that enhances and protects the wood.


The final box elder burl bowl is a delight to behold.  The character of the forest is evident in the bark live edge, the intricate figuring and the dramatic natural colouring of the wood. 

This final photograph, taken by Kelly Hollinshead, demonstrates the inherent beauty of this rare and unique piece.


Friday, April 15, 2011

A Successful Show


The Kingsway Lambton Art Show last Saturday was a huge success.  The sunny weather with the promise of spring had many Toronto residents out of the house and wanting to take in an art show.  People loved to touch the wood, hear the story of the making of the piece and imagine it in their homes.

The sales were brisk and it was a time to give out our brochures and promote the summer and fall studio tours.  Many people have cottages in Muskoka or are planning their vacations around artistic events so we hope to see them again.

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/

http://www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com/

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Kingsway-Lambton Art Show


Brian will be participating in the Kingsway-Lambton Art Show and Sale on Saturday, April 9 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.  With over 30 artists, visitors can view over 500 works of art.

We have been busy sorting, pricing and packing the bowls, platters, vessels and candles to travel to Toronto.  Last year we had excellent sales with many lucky brides receiving gifts from our workshop.

Please join us for the show at the Kingsway-Lambton United Church, 85 The Kingsway (at Prince Edward) 416-234-8224.