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.
No comments:
Post a Comment