My Sculpture Process

Platypus Burl Bowl

my father he used a chainsaw to remove a lot of the bulk

This large Gum Burl was chosen by the client and handed to me with only two requests, make a bowl with an Australian theme. Meshing my two favourite subjects was instant excitement for me. After studying the burl I visualised a design and with help from my father he used a chainsaw to remove a lot of the bulk and reach the bowl depth as the burl was quite large 35cm high x 70cm diameter.

Using my Arbortech Turbo Plane I shaped the bowl

Using my Arbortech Turbo Plane I shaped the bowl ready for the design.

drawing the design on with chalk

I placed the burl into a wheelbarrow for ease of moving around and working over. Here I’m drawing the design on with chalk.

here adding the finer details with hand chisels

Shaped the majority of the design with my Arbortech Mini Carver and here adding the finer details with hand chisels, although I don’t recommend using hand carving chisels on burls.

creating ripples in the water

The ripples in the water were created using a combination of the mini industrial and the Arbortech Contour Sander.

Penetrol Wood Oil is my preferred finish

Penetrol Wood Oil is my preferred finish, I apply it with a brush allowing it to soak into the porous burl timber and continue applying coats until I’m satisfied with the level of shine.

Wale Tale

unusual shaped piece of Red Cedar

Here is the before photo of an unusual shaped piece of Red Cedar that I took a liking to and could instantly see with a little design and shaping it would become a Wale Tale.

Designing with the flow of the original shape

Designing with the flow of the original shape

remove timber and exaggerate flowing shapes

Using my Arbortech Mini Industrial blade to remove timber and exaggerate flowing shapes.

Designing with the flow of the original shape

A chisel was used here to relief carve a water design onto the finished Whale Tale shape.

Designing with the flow of the original shape

The sculpture was then fixed to a base, NG Rose Wood burl, the swirl grain in the burl added to the water look and finished with many coats of Penetrol Wood Oil for a wet look.

Table with carved legs for the pedestal base

sketch

My nephew Rhyce Skodnik a fine furniture maker from Maleny in QLD. Aust. was commissioned to build this table. I was asked to design and carve the legs for the pedestal base. The rough sketch shown here was put forward to the client and accepted as the design to be carved on the four legs.

Carving well underway using hand chisels

Carving well underway using hand chisels.

Camphor Laurel top

Rhyce’s amazing joinery skills are shown in this beautiful Camphor Laurel top.

legs are handed to Rhyce to combine and join

All four carved legs are handed to Rhyce to combine and join our crafts together.

The end result is one gorgeous unique pedestal table.

finished table