Maple Burl Bowl

The creation of a special bowl begins with careful examination of a burl, the discovery of the character within, and results in the satisfaction of creating a work of art from nature.



A burl is a rounded outgrowth on the trunk of a tree that forms when the tree ungoes stress such as an injury or fungus.  Burls are prized for the beauty of their rare and highly figured grain.  This sugar maple burl was discarded by loggers in a nearby Bella Lake property as part of a forest management program.  

Brian mounted the burl on the lathe and shaped the bottom of the bowl.  A wide base and a curved lip developed as the burl rotated and Brian carved the profile with his gouge.  The wide wings were maintained and they give a graceful, elegant shape.

The orientation of the burl was then reversed and the chuck was attached to the bottom to form the inner contour of the bowl.  The inside of a burl is always a mystery until the cuts are made. This burl has outstanding colour and figuring.

Brian worked for over a week on the final finishing details of sanding, buffing, and many coats of oil, with exceptional results.  The bowl has a live edge, bark inclusions and rich variations in colour.

The Muskoka sugar maple burl from the forest lives on as a beautiful, natural work of art. 

Thank you for a Successful Tour

The Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour was full of energy, sunshine and happy customers.  Carol-Ann Michaelson and Jamie McGill, our guest artists, arrived on the Friday night with carloads of pottery and paintings.  What fun to find the perfect spot to display the art to its best advantage.  Brian and I were delighted as we made the transformation over the week from a workshop full of woodchips, sawdust and equipment to a remarkable collaborative artist's studio.

 


When customers entered the studio they broke into smiles and said it was a party. Hundreds of people visited Limberlost Woodturning over the weekend and the comments about the wood, pottery and paintings were consistently enthusiastic and positive.  Some visitors were cottagers, neighbours and friends returning to our studio, but the majority joined us for the first time. 

The atmosphere was energetic, busy, creative and enhanced by the music of Don Ablett.  Don, Carol-Ann's husband, is a singer and guitarist who is well-known for traditional blues, ragtime and contemporary folk songs. For Don, music is a pleasure and we were delighted to have him join us in the studio. 
 

Jamie told the stories of his paintings, and there was great interest in the oil and watercolour scenes of Algonquin and Georgian Bay.  His love of the north was evident as he described the experience of painting on canoe trips and en plein air.  It was a family affair with Karen McGill assisting customers and helping with sales.

There are so many people to thank....customers who support us with their postive comments and enthusiasm for the art, Jamie and Carol-Ann for joining us as guest artists, Don for sharing his musical talents and Karen for helping us in the studio.  Thanks for making it our best studio tour ever! 

www.jamiemcgill.ca

www.carolannmichaelson.ca

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.songwriters.ca/member/DonAblett

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour-This Weekend

We are almost ready for the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour. Brian and I have put away much of the equipment, cleared out the wood chips, vacuumed and dusted.  Now Brian's beautiful bowls, platters and vessels are ready for your visit. You will see the wood, the burls and the workshop with Brian demonstrating at his lathe.

Tomorow our guest artists' Carol-Ann Michaelson's pottery and Jamie McGill's paintings will be added to the display.

The purchase of a wooden bowl, painting or pottery has added significance when you see where it began, the craft of its creation and the artist who made your special work of art.

Limberlost Woodturning is open Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 from 10:00 to 6:00.

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/

http://www.limberlostwoodturning.com/

http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

http://www.jamiemcgill.ca/

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour

This weekend is your opportunity to explore the Limberlost area and visit twenty-one artists in eight studios.  Woodturning, painting, pottery, sculpture, jewellery, fused glass and furniture will be displayed within the working studios of the artists. 

Travel down the country roads, by the Muskoka lakes, wander through the gardens and see the artists in their creative environments. 

August 13 and 14, 10 am to 6 pm

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/open-studio-weekend.html

Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour--Guest Artist Jamie McGill

Thunderhead and Red Canoe

Next weekend, on August 13 and 14, at the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour, Brian will host a guest artist, Jamie McGill.  Working with both water colours and oils, Jamie's paintings express his love of nature.  

The inspiration for "Thunderhead and Red Canoe" occurred last summer when Jamie was paddling on Ralph Bice Lake in Algonquin Park. 

"The western sky was getting rather dark and brooding. Above us, large towering thunderheads were climbing and billowing skywards. I had been sketching those wonderful Tom Thomson cloudscapes all weekend -- never-ending white, grey, mauve boxcars lined-up right to the horizon.  So all I needed was a few quick photos to prime me for painting back home in the studio.   This painting (in oil) is 36" x 48" -- one of the largest pieces I have done.  It really needed that kind of size to communicate the power of the towering thunderhead. Our friends canoeing with us have a red canoe - ergo the title."

  

Below Pienza

Jamie's  painted "Below Pienza" in an area just south of Siena in Italy.

I took the watercolours and found this small farm road through the fields.  The late afternoon sunlight was from my right, casting these deep shadows across the road. At the turn of the road a single cypress was silhouetted against a darkening sky. It was one of those quick plein air sketches that just worked.  This painting won an Award of Merit at the 2011 Humber Valley Art Club Juried Exhibition.

Jamie loves to exhibit to a new audience -- to share insights and stories and to get first-hand feedback from a fresh group of viewers. Painting is very much about creative expression--one that must be communicated to others.  Join us next weekend to experience the art of Jamie McGill.

www.jamiemcgill.ca

www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca

www.limberlostwoodturning.com

Black Walnut and Pottery Platter

This black walnut and pottery platter is a collaborative piece joining the art of woodturning with the pottery of Carol-Ann Michaelson.  The highly-figured black walnut is enhanced by the striking tenmoku glaze of the ceramic disk. 

Brian's most interesting platters begin with a remarkable piece of wood.  This black walnut slab was cut from the crotch of the tree where the branch grew away from the trunk. 

The contrasts of the lighter sapwood and the darker heartwood at the split give incredible character to the platter.

Brian was able to cut a couple of round platters from the black walnut slab, turning them on the lathe and giving them a lustrous, food-safe finish.  He made a shallow, round indentation in the platter, and in the centre, placed the pottery disk.

Brian also paired a birds-eye maple platter with Carol-Ann's ochre and teal shino pottery disk. The platters are beautiful to look at and display, but also functional as serving pieces in the kitchen or dining room.

 

Carol-Ann Michaelson is joining Brian as a guest artist at the Artists of the Limberlost Studio Tour on August 13 and 14, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  It is your opportunity to see Carol-Ann's kiln-fired pottery which includes bowls, platters, pots and vessels.

In our workshop, during the Studio Tour, you will see the harmony created as we display the arts of woodturning and pottery.

http://www.limberlostwoodturning.com/

http://www.carolannmichaelson.ca/

http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/