Australian Wood Review – September 2019

60 Australian Wood Review

WOODTURNING

In contrast, the concept of both Grid and Chiaroscuro were

planned – working out how to shape the square components

safely took a bit of thinking and the preparation of a jig, but

then arranging the pieces was a matter of trial and error.

Arrange, step back, assess and rearrange until all looks ‘right’

then consider how to hold everything in place. Taking photos

along the way to look back on can help. I find it’s important

to view the piece from a distance, so there are times when I

place the item on the ground just outside my workshop and

climb up onto the roof and look down...

Let things evolve

Often one idea leads to another, as was the case with

Cascading Down, which evolved from Grid where I hoped

to evoke something akin to tissues floating down. After

turning small squares on both faces, then cutting each

into uneven quarters which were shaped I could

then begin to explore layout.

For a contrasting background some rough sawn oak was

cut, burnt and wire-brushed. To seal the surface and

deepen the colour I sprayed a couple of coats of matt

polyurethane which soaked right into the wood and

leaving a rough and raw appearance.

7

8

7. Cascading Down, 2017,
   380 x 420 x 30mm, oak,
   cherry, maple (from
   recycled pallets).


8. Chiaroscuro, 2019, 360mm
   dia x 20mm, pin oak, oregon


9. Grid, 2014, 550 x 400 x
   20mm deep, Pin Oak (from
   recycled pallets), MDF.
   10–12 Showing the process of
   making Grid.