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.

kingswaylambton.ca/art_show.html

MAC Award of Excellence for Wood Turning

The artistic talents of Muskoka Arts & Crafts were showcased at the Spring Members' Show last weekend and it was impressive.  From painting to glass, pottery to sculpture, furniture to wood turning, MAC fosters the creative spirit of a vibrant artists' community.

What an honour it was for Brian to receive the MAC Award of Excellence for Wood Turning.

Brian entered three spectacular pieces in the "Year Of The Forest" show: a maple burl platter-Global Forest; a cedar burl vessel-Forest's Awakening; and a box elder bowl-Passion.

Each is a distinctive and elegant work of art with depth of grain, colour and natural edge.  Congratulations to Brian!

Quilted Maple Platter

This beautiful maple platter has incredible texture, character and rare figuring.  What sets it apart from other wood is that it is quilted maple which has a wavy pattern, like ripples on water. Brian never knows what lies within the slab of wood until he turns it on the lathe.  The highly prized quilting, the variations of colour, the spalting and the bark edge make this an exquisite piece.

Keely called today, looking for a gift for a friend in Banff after visiting with her for a week.  The friend is an artist and Keely is pleased that she can show her appreciation by sending her this special quilted maple platter.

Black Walnut Limb Platter

Black walnut is a deciduous North American tree with deeply furrowed black bark. These slabs, cut on the diagonal through the limb, have distinctive dark brown heartwood and lighter sapwood on the outer edge.

The variations in colour from butternut to dark brown with visible growth rings made a unique platter.  Brian experimented with a raised lip, offset from the centre, with great results.



From the raw slab of wood to the finished platter--beautiful.  I can imagine cheese and grapes arranged on the outer edge and crackers in the centre bowl.  Appetizers never looked better.

Trees and Travel

We have just returned from a three week trip through the United States down to Key West, Florida with a stop in Savannah, Georgia for a few days on the way back.  We love winter in Canada but it is a joy to sit by the ocean, feel the warm sun, eat seafood, and have fun with friends.  A huge snow storm hit Huntsville last night and we woke up to a winter wonderland.

Looking at our photos, I was struck by how many different species of trees we saw.  We had an airboat trip in the Everglades through a mangrove swamp, trees which thrive in salt water.  Contrast this to the magnificent banyan trees in Key West, the palms by the ocean, and the Spanish moss which covered the stately trees in Savanah.  Magnolias in bloom on Friday and four inches of snow on our pines on Sunday.  Isn't travel wonderful?



Australian Eucalyptus Burls

Brian and I went to Western Australia last spring and explored the beautiful Margaret River area, south of Perth.   Here is a picture of Brian admiring a eucalyptus tree which is covered with burls. 

We were impressed and amazed by the size of the enormous eucalyptus trees. This area is famous for its fine woodwork and art galleries and we enjoyed seeing the bowls, platters and furniture made by the Australian woodturners.

Brian turned these two bowls from white gum eucalyptus burl.  This richly textured wood was interesting to turn, not only for its appearance but also for the distinctive smell of the eucalyptus oil. 

A Redwood Valentine Heart Platter

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Brian is showing his whimsical, light-hearted side with this heart shaped redwood burl platter.  Made from the "heart" of a giant redwood burl from the west coast of Canada, it is a perfect way to serve food to family or friends...... with love.

This platter is part of a display at The Norsemen restaurant where owners Les and Susi are showcasing the creations of The Artists of the Limberlost.

  http://www.norsemen-walkerlake.com/ 

  http://www.artistsofthelimberlost.ca/