MAST Art Show at the Summit Centre

Brian Markham-Woodturner

Brian is pleased to have his work displayed in the MAST Art Show at the Summit Centre in Huntsville.  The most recent work of the twenty-four artists of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour will be on exhibit until August 13, 2013.

Bigleaf Maple Burl Platter

Brian's Bigleaf Maple Burl platter is a piece of art which can be used to display and serve food.  The polished finish reveals the extraordinary markings, rich variations in colour and the natural raw edge.

 

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour Exhibit at the Summit Centre

Today was set-up day for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour exhibit at the Summit Centre in Huntsville.  It was exciting to see the show come together as the different art forms were hung on the walls and in the display cases.

Here is Brian's walnut burl bowl with Susan Higgin's fused glass, Eric Lindgren's pottery, Marnie Martin's woven scarf and Jon Partridges's pottery.  The mix of colour, texture and medium make a beautiful display.

The show runs from April 17 to July 16, 2012.  For more information on MAST, go to:

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

Win $100 Gift Certificate for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour

You can win a $100 gift certificate for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour on Saturday, September 24 for any studio on the tour, with a one night stay at the King William Inn, Huntsville.

To enter, visit www.ontarioart.net/contest-MAST

Brian and I would love to see you at Limberlost Woodturning!

Maple Burl Platter

The second Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour weekend was sunny and clear with the autumn leaves at their peak of brillance.  The sales were excellent and Brian and I loved seeing our happy customers taking home their purchases.

 

On the first weekend of MAST Brian was asked to create a large platter from a magnificent maple burl. A burl is a rounded growth on the side of a tree that results in uniquely figured grains, natural imperfections and bark inclusions which add to the beauty of the wood. He worked on the platter last week and delivered it yesterday.

The burl was so large that Brian had to change his lathe so that he could mount it on the outside setting.

 It is the biggest burl platter ever made by Brian. As the wood revolved on the lathe, he carved out the bottom with his gouging tool.

 He shaped and buffed the bottom to a smooth finish.

Brian oiled the bottom, turned the platter around and mounted it with the vacuum chuck so he could shape the top of the platter.  The food-safe finish of this hand-crafted piece is a pleasure to touch.

The result is one of the most beautiful wooden platters that Brian has ever made.  The customer was delighted and we were told that it will be included in a photo shoot of a leading Canadian magazine.  Imagine the party where the hors d'oeuvres will be presented on this splendid Maple Burl serving piece. It's a work of art. 

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour--First Weekend

The first weekend of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour was a real success.  The fall colours, reds, oranges and golds, are coming into their full glory.  The visitors to our studio loved travelling along the roads and by the lakes in the Limberlost area, to see art where it is made, in its natural setting.

Our son Stephen came up to the cottage this weekend and helped us with the studio tour.  He has lots of enthusiasm for Brian's work and was able to answer questions about wood-turning and the different types of wood.



Brian's workshop was transformed into a studio, the woodshavings swept and the platters and bowls set up on the equipment and wood planks.  Each piece has a story--the origin of the wood or burl and how it was made--and we love to tell it.