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.

 

Yellow Birch Burl Bowl-Studio Tour Demonstrations

 

 

Demonstrations by the artist are an important part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and visitors enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at the process of making bowls and platters.

 

This year Brian turned a yellow birch burl on his lathe.  There were many questions about how Brian finds the burls, how he decides on the shape, and the steps that go into the turning, sanding and finishing of the bowl.

This yellow birch bowl is one of the 300 burls which Brian received in September that were saved from the scrapheap at a local sawmill.  This was described in a previous post 300 burls.  Brian is pleased with this bowl, which has distinctive figuring, colour variations and a live bark edge.  The art of woodturning takes a discarded and gnarled piece of wood and reveals its unexpected natural beauty.

 

Studio Tour Success

 

A studio tour is our opportunity to open the doors and showcase all the work that Brian has produced this year.  The smiles and surprised looks on the faces of our visitors is our reward as they enter the workshop and react to the beauty of the display.  It was a family affair this year as our sons helped to welcome our guests and tell them the story of each bowl and platter.

 

The drive to the workshop along roads with colourful autumn colours sets the stage as people experience the beauty of the forest and Muskoka's scenery.  Brian was able to explain the process of turning bowls on the lathe and he demonstrated with a maple and yellow birch burl.  The chips were flying, bowls were revealed and the questions were answered.

It was our pleasure to be part of the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and we loved seeing the delight of our customers as they left with their purchases. 

The studio will soon be turned back into a workshop and the bowls and platter will be safely packed away.  However, we are always open by appointment if you have a special occasion with a need for a wedding, birthday, retirement or holiday present.  Call us at 705-635-3190 and we will help you find the perfect gift.

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour - You Are Invited

 

Cool crisp days, brilliant sunshine and the splendor of autumn leaves.  It is the perfect weekend to explore the dramatic back roads of Muskoka and visit artists in their studios.  Brian works alone at his lathe all year and he loves the opporturnity to interact with people and show them the bowls, platters and tables that he has created.

 

 

We welcome you into the workshop where you can see the raw burls, the slabs of wood and understand the process involved in turning them into platters and bowls.  The crowds form around Brian's lathe and there is time for discussion and a demonstration of his craft.



 

Limberlost Woodturning is on Fieldale Road, north-east of Huntsville on beautiful Rebecca Lake.  Plan your weekend to see some of the 20 artists who are opening their studios to the public.  For more information go to:

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com 

Burl and Wrought Iron Furniture

 

Bigleaf maple burl table with a wrought iron base

 

Brian specializes in turning bowls and platters on his lathe, but has recently completed some magnificent maple burl coffee tables. 

 

 



Last winter Brian made burl tables for our home, and a previous post about them on our blog,  Maple Burl and Wrought Iron Tables, led to a commission for a couple who have a cottage on Lake of Bays.  They chose the perfect piece of wood for their table from a slab of a maple tree that was covered in burls.  

 

Once again Brian worked with Matt Church, an artist and blacksmith, at The Artisan's Gallery , to make the  base for this table and three others, each with their own distinctive grain, colouring and details.

Matt Church designed the bases from wrought iron to fit and complement the unique shape of the table tops.  As the tables are maple, Matt formed the legs to appear as branches and twigs with interlaced maple leaves.

Brian shaped each table top, maintaining the raw edge, as he sanded and buffed the tops to a fine finish.

Multiple layers of urethane were rolled onto the table tops.  They were allowed to dry and then sanded between coats until there was a lustrous hard surface.

 

With each coat and the final polish, the contrasts in colour and grain were revealed and enhanced.  This table is made from a cross section of a huge bigleaf maple burl. The lighter sapwood and bark edge encircle the inner, darker heartwood centre, creating a rare and highly-prized effect.

 

Once the table tops were complete, Brian positioned the bases on the wood and screwed them into place.

Red maple table with a wrought iron base

The choice of Matt Church's wrought iron bases with their maple leaf motif was a perfect match to the finished table top.

Bigleaf maple burl table

Close-up photos of the tables detail the beauty of the burls with their irregular grain, bark inclusions and rich contrasts of colour.  These tables would be a splendid addition to any home.



Red maple table with a burl live edge

Artisan's Gallery wrought iron leaf



We are only a few days from the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and it will be a wonderful opportunity to travel along the beautiful Muskoka roads with their colourful leaves and awesome scenery. You are welcome to visit Limberlost Woodturning on the last two weekends of September from 10:00-6:00. For more information, go to:

 

 www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

 

 

Maple burl tables with wrought iron bases

 

300 Burls

Every so often luck comes your way and in this case, it was in the form of a phone call from a man who works in a lumber mill.  Burls are cut off when preparing trees to be sawed into boards at a mill.  Often burls are discarded or burned but fortunately they were set aside until the pile became unmanageable.

Burls are the irregular growths that occur spontaneously on the sides of trees when exposed to trauma, insects or stress.  Most people would think of them as ugly and unwanted parts of the tree but to Brian, they hold the mystery of the forest, just waiting to be discovered on the lathe.  Brian bought the whole load of 300 seasoned burls and has started to turn a few of them.

The burls came in all shapes and sizes and were primarily yellow birch and maple from the Muskoka area.  Brian sorted through the pile, found a dry spot to store them and chose a few to begin to turn on the lathe.  The Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour is two weeks away so he wanted to have a few ready for sale.

Yellow Birch and Maple Burl Bowls

 

The unique characteristics of each burl determine the shape, colour and grain of each bowl.  Brian loves the challenge of finding the extraordinary within the discarded piece of wood, allowing the inner beauty of each bowl to be revealed.

 

Limberlost Woodturning is open for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour on September 22, 23 and 29, 30 from 10:00 am  to 6:00 pm and we would love to see you. For more information, go to:

 

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com



 

Maple Burl Bowl with a Live Edge

 



Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour-Plan Your September in Muskoka

September is a special month in Muskoka.  The air cools, the colours change, and the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour continues its tradition of welcoming visitors to experience, learn and acquire work directly from the makers.  This year the Tour runs two weekends; September 22-23, and 29-30, from 10 till 6 each day.

In this, its 34^th year, the tour features a wide range of media including fibre, wood, glass, metal, clay, photography, drawing and painting.  It provides a unique opportunity to meet the artists, to learn how and where they work, and to experience a wide range of creativity.

Mark your calendar and plan to visit Limberlost Woodturning in September.

muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

MAST Exhibit Opening Reception

You are invited to the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour opening reception at the Summit Centre on Friday, April 27, 5:00 to 6:30.  The artists will be present with a display of their most recent work.  The show runs until July 16 in the building's main entrance and in the artium overlooking the foyer. 

This exhibit is a preview of the art you can see during the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour this fall on September 22, 23 and 29, 30 from 10 am to 6 pm.

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

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

Autumn Splendor in Muskoka



We had hundreds of people in our workshop during the Musoka Autumn Studio Tour and despite predictions of rainy, cold weather, it was a perfect fall weekend.  Our guests enjoyed seeing Brian's new bowls and platters, and had an opportunity to ask questions and watch Brian demonstrate the art of wood-turning.

Now we will enjoy our beautiful autumn with hikes in the forest, the Algonquin Park colours and the mist rising from the lake as we sit on our dock.

Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour- We Are Ready!

This weekend is the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour and we are ready!  Mother Nature has done her work and the trees are turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow.  It should be a perfect weekend to explore Muskoka and visit the artist studios.  September 24 and 25, 10:00 to 6:00.

http://www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com/

Take a virtual tour of Limberlost Woodturning and see Brian's skill as a woodturner.

Three Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour Artists

The Limberlost area, near Huntsville, has three artists who are opening their studios for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour: Susan Higgins, fused glass artist; Catherine O'Mara, painter; and Brian Markham, woodturner.

You are invited to visit on September 24 and 25, 10:00 am to 6:00.







Susan Higgins will welcome you into her scenic lakeside studio.  Her colourful art glass protrays natural themes using the ancient technique of fused glass. 

Glasses are cut, composed in layers and melted together in a kiln to create inventive effects in original bowls, platters and window panels.

 This beautiful platter is called Autumn Light.

Meet Catherine O'Mara in her Limberlost Studio with its lovely garden cottage. 

Learn about the ancient medium of egg tempera.

Catherine has been working on a birch series using a Renaissance techique called Pastiglia. This creates a textured and raised effect with stunning results.  You have the sense that you can step into the forest.

Visit Limberlost Woodturning on Rebecca Lake where you can see Brian Markham creating unique wooden bowls and platters in his workshop.

Brian has been experimenting with different shapes as he follows the natural contour of the burl to reveal the variations of colour and grain within.

This is a studio where you are welcome to touch and explore the warmth and beauty of each piece.

Yellow Birch Burl Bowl

For the details of all 26 artisits on the studio tour go to:

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com

See the Artists' at Work in their Studios

The nights have been cold and the days sunny so next week should have a magnificant display of autumn leaves for all who participate in the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour.  Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the artists' studios, and see the artistic process at work through demonstrations and displays.  See how a bowl is made as Brian turns it on the lathe.

 

York Gum Eucalyptus Burl Platter

Join us on September 24 and 25, 10:00 to 6:00 and see the many beautiful bowls and platters that Brian has created in his workshop.



Maple Burl Bowl with Live Edge

Getting Ready for the Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour

Tamarind Branch Platter

Twelve days to go before we open the workshop for the "Muskoka Autumn Studio Tour".  Twenty-six diversely talented artists will give you a glimpse into their studios where raw materials are transformed into superb art pieces. Join us on September 24th and 25th for the tour.

www.muskokaautumnstudiotour.com



Raw edge bowls of Russian Olive, Mulberry, Black Cherry

Brian has a large number of bowls and platters ready for the show so he has had fun making smaller raw edge bowls from unique and highly figured wood. 

He has been experimenting with Russian Olive, Mulberry and Black Cherry.



 

Figured Maple and Onyx Platter


We were finally able to obtain onyx from India after a two year wait for delivery.  These beautiful tiles have layers and bands of colour which range from cream to green to rust. 

Brian made a few new figured maple platters with an onyx centre.  Very popular and versatile, they are purchased as soon as people see them.

Brian has a week of production on the lathe before we begin the transformation from dusty workshop full of wood shavings to an open studio, ready to welcome our guests.  Lots of work ahead!