The Tear

[Steve Schlumpf]

This Basswood form was weeks in the making. Once I finish turned the main body, I really liked the organic form and wanted the end result to be something more than just another vase. Seeing as how this was the last small piece of Basswood I had, I made another trip out to my property and cut a section of limb from a downed Basswood tree to turn for the top.

Turned the top so that it fit perfect and set it aside to dry, which I figured would take a week to ten days. Neat thing about Basswood is that it doesn’t warp very much while drying. What I didn’t know, but learned the hard way, is that it does shrink! My perfect lid ended up being way too small to use, so I turned another!

Basswood, 11” high x 5” diameter x 1/8” thick. Dyed blue with TransTint and given multiple coats of gloss wipe-on poly to get that wet-like and highly reflective surface.

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As always, your comments, opinions and critiques are welcomed!

Thanks for looking!

[Faust M. Ruggiero]

It surely is a different shape for you, Steve. The turning is impeccable as always. The dyes don't do you justice on basswood. I would really like to see you turn another and attack it with an airbrush and acrylic paints. Maybe even throw on a coat of gesso so the paint colors remain true. I'll bet you could make it look like a real tear drop because the shape is so good.
faust

[Chris Studley]

I like this Steve... Neat turning, and something different.

Timely as well.

[Toby Bouder]

I really like this Steve. I have some plain pieces that I think using some dye would help. Another technique on my list to learn.

Toby

[David DeCristoforo]

I really like this, Steve. The vase without the lid is beautiful but is was a brilliant stroke to put the top on it, completing the water drop shape. I'm also interested in your decision to fade the color so that the darker area is in the upper part of the form. "logically" one would think to make the lower part darker to "anchor" the piece. Reversing it has given the form a sense of floating and the darker color of the upper part keeps pulling the eye back up to the top. As a well known alien would say... "Fascinating".

[Doug W Swanson]

This is a really neat piece, Steve. The color is really nice and the shape is very pleasing. Love the glossy finish, too!

[John Keeton]

Very nice, watery blue, Steve!! I know you worked with this quite a bit, and it paid off very well. Great form! When we discussed this one, I was having a difficult time envisioning the top, but you brought it together with style. Well done!

[Roger Chandler]

Innovative Steve......congrats on a fine piece.......the top made it complete! Something from you that was not southwest style and it should show well!

[tom martin]

Very nice Steve! If you ever make it down to Tomahawk stop by and I can fix you up with all the basswood you would like!
Tom

[Peter Blair]

It's a winner for sure Steve!

[Jim Burr]

Your dye work is always amazing!! Not an "Off-the-shelf" form to be sure...I like both parts!

[Josh Bowman]

Steve,
That looks very cool! Very interesting shape. I assume it's hollowed out all the way? Color looks great also.

[Eric Gourieux]

Really nice, Steve. I like the shape and color

[Steve Schlumpf]

Thanks for all the comments everyone - I do appreciate them!

David - wish I could take credit for planning a unique method of dyeing but the honest truth is that the vase is turned endgrain.. so all the grain at the largest circumference is facegrain and it accepts less dye than endgrain. As you progress either direction from the largest diameter - you encounter more and more endgrain and that stuff just wicks in the dye!! I did experiment with shellac as a way to control what gets color and how much - but I like the natural colors you get when you just let the wood accept what it will. To me, water at it's largest diameter reflects more light.. so this effect is exactly the effect I had hoped for.

[Scott Hackler]

Very different (and cool) Steve. When I looked at the thumpnail I thought to myself "did he hollow that out from the bottom?" :)

[Joe Meirhaeghe]

It's not just another vase that's for sure, nice flow to the piece. I like the color however I'd like to see you use acrylics instead of dye. But that's another topic altogether.

[BILL DONAHUE]

A tour de force! Outstanding in every respect, form, finish and originality. First I thought of the song "Blue Christmas" and then, and much more appropriately, "Crying Christmas Tears" by Eric Clapton. Wish I knew how you dyed this. Tried to do one by testing a small area on a piece and it just didn't look right. Here's a link to the tune that fits this terrific turning. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpQ9ZmwLCJY

[Nate Davey]

What a spectacular piece, Steve. I love the form and the color just adds to it.

[Lori Kleinberg]

Steve, I agree with David, the vase is beautiful, but that lid takes it to another dimension. Absolutely beautiful piece.

[Doug Herzberg]

Steve, this looks like something that would fit right in Woody Allen's Sleeper house. Clean, modern, perfectly formed. I think of rain, not tears. I'd like to see a bunch of them suspended by something invisible, like fishing line, to simulate a rain shower. Very cool.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Beautiful piece. Love the form and the color of the blue.

[Kathy Marshall]

Beautiful piece Steve! Very cool lidded form and I love how the dye turned out.

[Michelle Rich]

I luv seeing different & this is that! very cool

[Baxter Smith]

I never would have thought that basswood could be so pretty Steve. Even though the color and finish are excellent, its the form that takes it over the top!(no pun intended) ;) Almost a stroke of genius!:)

[charlie knighton]

great size and form Steve, very nice

[Tim Rinehart]

Steve, this is a neat piece, and I enjoyed your description of intent for the color banding. If you keep experimenting with various forms, it will become more of a challenge to spot your work right off! Really enjoy seeing the diverse pieces you do.

[Rich Aldrich]

Nice form. I like how the lid is "hidden" - blends right in. Really nice dye job. I have a source for basswood if you need more. It might be next summer until I can get it.