Black Cherry HF

[Mark Cothren]

Black Cherry crotch with multiple piths... about 10-1/2" wide and 6" tall... crack on top is filled with epoxy/charcoal.

I would appreciate feedback/comments on the turning and also on the pic, as this is in a photo booth.

Hard to tell, but the inside edge of the rim is burned...

Here it is when I started...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/CherryCrotchHF01.jpg


Here it is roughed out....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/CherryCrotchHF03.jpg


Here it is finished...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v684/markfromark/BlackCherryHF01.jpg

[Pete Jordan]

I don't know what to say except exceptional!

[Frank Chaffee]

Fantastic Mark.
Frank

[Bernie Weishapl]

Beautiful Mark. I like the form and finish.

[Corey Hallagan]

Wow, that is really cool Mark, beautiful work!

corey

[Jim Dunn]

Outstanding Mark. Just terrific!

[Keith Burns]

Exceptional, stunning, wonderful, just not enough words available:) :)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Incredible wood...beautiful form and finish! If you decide you don't like it and are throwing it out:confused: ........I'll pm you my home address and pay for the shipping!:eek: :D

[Curt Fuller]

That's another beauty Mark! Quite a piece of wood you started with and beautiful end result. I really like the charcoal/epoxy idea too. And in my unphotogenic opinion that's a great photo too.

[Jim Becker]

The orientation of that blank really afforded a very interesting final form, Mark! Nice....

[Bruce Shiverdecker]

Looks like a winner, to me!

Don't know if you wanted the front shadow or not, but i think it would show better without it.

Hope that's constructive! I DO have to make myself one of those booths, soon.

Bruce

[Ernie Nyvall]

Gorgeous Mark.

Ernie

[Christopher K. Hartley]

Mark it's a really nice vase. I do think a different background color would show it off better. Can you tell me, do you hollow with a hollowing tool on this shape or do you use your gouge and scrapers? Thanks,

[Mark Cothren]

I'm gonna try a black background tomorrow or Saturday - when I take pics again...

I use Scorpion bars on a D-handle captive setup... Travis made the D-handle for me and I built the backrest from plywood using Dennis' as a pattern.

[Jim Ketron]

Awesome Job Mark!
Beautiful Piece!

[Vaughn McMillan]

That's awesome work, Mark. Seeing how a piece like this comes from a hunk of wood like that just amazes me.

- Vaughn

[Andy Hoyt]

Yeah just line me up with them other guys in "sure is nice, I quit" group:D

[Dennis Peacock]

Very nice Mark!!!!! Simply beautiful. :D

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Yeah just line me up with them other guys in "sure is nice, I quit" group:D

I guess I need to get in line too....

BTW, your post answered a question about them Mustard lathes, I was wondering what the steel cage thing was all about, now I see it is a face shield storage rack! :D

[John Hart]

With all that wonderful activity in the grain, I think this form is perfect! Not too little...Not too much. You've really let the wood speak for itself and gave it an elogant platform. I've had great luck with black cherry on a black background.....The lighting seems to get absorbed just right. Nice work Mark!!

[Mark Cothren]

BTW, your post answered a question about them Mustard lathes, I was wondering what the steel cage thing was all about, now I see it is a face shield storage rack! :D

That's what I keep trying to tell all these other guys, Stu... I would be lost with out my shield/tool/air hose/rag storage rack...;)

[John Miliunas]

Mr. Cothren, you never fail to amaze me! That's way nice and the orientation truly makes for interesting patterns. As always, your attention to the final form is super. All in all, a fantastic piece!:)

BTW, I have a very similar shield/tool/air hose/rag storage rack on my Vega! :D :cool:

[Rich Stewart]

Man!! That blank looks like it'd a beat the tar outta me. You gotta spin them fast to lessen the air time? Beautiful form though. Nice job.

[Jeff Horton]

I would appreciate feedback/comments on the turning and also on the pic, as this is in a photo booth.

I used to do a lot of photography in the past. Never did much still life and that what this really is. But I find the reflections of the lights very distracting from the wood. It washes out the details. Might try a stronger diffuser and/or repositioning the light. Even so it's a good picture.

Mr .05's worth.

[Mike Ramsey]

Exceptional, stunning, wonderful, just not enough words available:) :)

Other words available, Awesome & Beautiful!....Now for the constructive
critique................................

[Tom Jones III]

Wow, great work. Thanks for posting all 3 pics as a beginner I often have trouble picturing what to do with a raw log and pictures like yours really help.

[Travis Stinson]

Super job Mark. How about some shots from different sides? Should be some very interesting grain patterns around it. :cool:

[Mark Cothren]

I used to do a lot of photography in the past. Never did much still life and that what this really is. But I find the reflections of the lights very distracting from the wood. It washes out the details. Might try a stronger diffuser and/or repositioning the light. Even so it's a good picture.

Mr .05's worth.

Thanks for the feedback Jeff. I'm definitely gonna play around with the photo booth some more.



(I tried to post this earlier but SMC "threw a rod" on me)

Since a few folks have commented on the orientation of the wood I'll add this... I was inspired from the weekend at Travis', watching him turn Katrina II. I started on this one the day after I got back from his place. I also learned something about cutting crotch pieces from Jim Ketron and plan to put what I learned into practice very soon and see what I come up with.

In summary, I learned there is still more than one way to "skin the cat"...:cool:

[Pete Jordan]

Mark,
Is there a reason that you started the blank that way? I haven't seen it in my books or videos.

Pete

[Glenn Hodges]

Oh Mark, this is one beautiful HF. I like the way you mounted it on the lathe to get the wood to show off this beauty.