|
Newest
Critiques Are At The Bottom
Overall, I really like this piece. It is an unusual shape. I see it
fitting well in an Arts & Crafts environment. The piece is large
enough to be useful yet the wall thickness makes it light and delicate.
Looking at the container part first, the line that defines the sides of
the container is smooth and flowing. The narrowest portion of the
container is 2/5's or so down from the rim. This provides nice interesting
asymmetry. The feet are nicely proportioned and they gently lift the
container off of the table creating a nice shadow line. I like how the
feet correspond to the carved panels. The container's carving is its
weakest part. The carving doesn't stand out enough. The same carving done
on a light colored wood may have looked better. With the beautifully
figured burl that this piece was created from, it would have been better
off with less carving. In this case less is more. Just the panels and some
texturing done sparingly would have created an understated elegance that
is the hallmark of Arts & Crafts pottery.
The lid’s shape is excellent. The pedals match up thematically with
the panels on the container. I love how the petals meet at the top of the
lid. The fit of the lid allows for this box to be used one handed and is
such that you don't have to worry about the fit changing with time. The
weakest parts of the lid are the color and the finial. A lid that is a
different color from its container can be very dramatic as long as the
overall color scheme is unified. The pink pipestone finial really doesn't
match and maybe that is because the color isn't unified with any other
color in the piece. It does add some interest in that it is mounted in the
opposite plane as the lid.
My suggestions for the next "Arts and Crafts Box" are:
- less carving
- a more unified and/or subtle color scheme
- lighter colored wood if a pictorial scene is carved in the panels
- redesign the finial so that it fits into the theme of the piece
(possibly a tree shape in this case)
Will Simpson
The profile of the entire piece -without the finial-is
very nice. I really think the feet add a great deal by elevating the
piece if only slightly. The feet themselves work well and do not
detract with their utilitarian design.
The coloring of the piece overall is very contrasting. The top is a
beautiful shade of purple, while the body is dull brown. I think the
amount of burl figure showing through is just right.
The finial simply doesn't work for me. It doesn't go with the piece
and even off the piece it doesn't work. However, pipestone could
work, but I think the shape should be similar to the body and possibly
fluted like the top.
The carving on the body, while not especially detailed or intricate, add
feel to the piece. I also like how they continue from panel to
panel. The trees are unnecessary.
Ben Carpenter
This is a beautiful piece!! I'd give my left arm,
my turning chisels and my lathe to be able to envision, design and make
something like this!!
Harry - Lynden, Ontario
First of all, I love this box! What comes to my mind,
rather than Stickley, though, is a sort of Anglo-Saxon feel. It brings me images
of Camelot. The carving to me looks like armor plate. At least in the
picture, it looks almost metallic in that way, and the coloring of the lid
suggests leather. The proportions are excellent, and I like the way the
feet lift the otherwise robust shape off the table just a bit. The finial,
too, reminds me of Old English or Celtic origins.
I think this piece would have cross-gender appeal, as the body is very
masculine, yet the finial is very feminine. I think it all works.
Jim Gott - San Jose, California
This is a beautiful piece of work overall. I agree with
the others that the lid doesn't fit. The shape, to me, suggests a flagon
(we need a scale reference in the picture)
I think the color in the burl is suggestive of snow capped mountains, the
carving breaks up the "scene".
The feet are nice, just enough to give it a shadow line, understated.
The lid forces it into being a box, but with free form sculpture I think
you would want to leave it to the viewer what it's function is.
Very nice work though.
Mark Lambert - Florida
A beautiful piece that brings to mind walnut panels, old
leather and dark dens. I like the finial, but I am not sure of the
pipestone. Pipestone, to me, is too symbolic of its use. Too
light and ceremonial for something of this "weight". I
like the color of the top. Agree with other comments about lighter
color for use on the bottom of the next box, but with the same color
scheme on top.
Dusty Varmint - Southeast
Wisconsin
I agree with one of the other comments, that it reminds
me more of Old English or Celtic. Even the feet suggest the walls of
a turret on an old castle. I like the way the carved panels flow with the
carved lid. But I think just the panels would be just enough to give
the piece elegance. The rest of the carving seems to be too busy.
The combination of the colors is nice, but the white is a little
distracting. Overall, the piece is tremendous and obviously required
a lot of time, planning and patience. Maybe someday, I'll be able to
stick with a project that long. Thanks for sharing it with us in this
forum. As a novice, it really makes me think.
Danny Wells - Natchitoches, LA
First of all, my compliments on the idea and the courage
to take this first step. This should be a good forum for learning
and discussion.
I have a teacher who told me that the essence of good design is knowing
when to stop. I have a feeling that this was really two pieces.
I liked the bottom. It reminded me of a piece of Roseville pottery.
The color was nicely done but the carving could have ended with the
completion of the panels. The detail carving was a little too fussy.
The top was technically superb but overpowered the base. I would be more
comfortable if the top were used on a taller, 'basic egg' vessel or
similar. The soapstone carving seems to detract from the lovely
lines of the carving, perhaps a more linear approach would be better.
Technically superb work but too much packed into too small a space.
Phil Wall - Philadelphia, PA
This is the work of a skilled turner. Well done
nicely displayed and well photographed.
It is also a very clever way to gain "free" exposure for
your web site and your products. I am uncomfortable with this. You could
have posted the piece without the rest of the site and still gotten the
critique you desire.
Harry A De Vrieze
First it must be said that the turning and carving are
extremely good. The overall shape is appealing as is the carving design. I
think however there is too much colour and although the finial/handle
match the lid pattern I would like to have seen a turned version. I still
feel wrong in criticizing something that I don't have the skills to
achieve but you did ask.
Andy Ball - Georgetown, Ont. Canada
This is a splendid piece I would be proud to own and
even more proud to have created myself. On a scale of 100 I would
rate this piece a 98. So please understand my critique and suggestions
would likely not improve the overall rating of the piece. But at the
same time I feel compelled to put in my 2 cents.
Overall I like the profile. A canister with a waist is a basic and
attractive shape. I would prefer the waist a bit lower and more
symmetry in the profile of the body.
The carving is busy and detracts from the graceful lines. Sometimes
a piece NEEDS carving. Sometimes it doesn't matter and in this case
it detracts.
The ogee of the lid is very nice and very much in keeping with the profile
of the piece. The fluting of the lid is unnecessary and adds nothing
to the piece. The color is distracting and unnecessary given the
outstanding figure of the wood. Perhaps if the wood lacked figure
the carving and color would enhance the piece instead of detracting from
the primary qualities (profile and burl figure).
Others have mentioned the finial. I don't have anything to add to
that.
What I would do different?
Simplify. When I look at arts and crafts "stuff" I see
simple with subtle curves to enhance the work.
An even waist (maybe a little higher than middle). The foot would be
a wavy ring to give a shadow line and multiple points of contact but
maintain the "turning" features of the piece. For the lid
I would do little or no overhang with a slightly more pronounced ogee.
The knob would be more of a flower shape with perhaps some coloring and
carving to make it look a bit more organic.
Richard Allen - Falls Church, VA
I like the way it looks old. Invites you to want to pick
it up and look at it. Like Andy I can't carve and design items like this.
Artistic woodworking is
on another level to the woodworking I do.
Bryan Cowing
First of all, this is a lovely piece that many would be
absolutely delighted to have made. So the comments you are going to
receive are nit-picking, pain-in-the-ass types but here goes!
I feel that the carving on the panels on the body is not needed. It does
not add anything to the piece and therefore only can detract from it. A
reasonably polished surface here would look good ala the inside of the
lid. The frosted/hammered look on the base/lower portion is great, very
clean and must give a beautiful texture when you hold it.
The lid is good, esp. the segments, but I think a simpler finial in either
the same timber as the body or maybe in ebony would look better. The
finial would then look more "turned" and less
"button-like".
Over all know that this is a good piece that you can be proud of and don't
think you're doing anything wrong by ignoring the comments!
Francis Morrin - Ireland
Superb piece! I hope someday to approach the
talent and insight that Jim Christiansen has shown in abundance. I
am obviously years from reaching that expertise. I'm flattered to be
able to be part of a critique and I hope my impressions as an
"intermediate" turner of only two years of serious experience
will be of some value so here goes....
First impression = Wow!
Second impression = Why such a purple top?
Third impression = Oh, the carving's color at the box's base matches the
top to some degree, yet the top still seems too intense.
Fourth impression = Carving and shape is very appealing. It gives me a
wonderful medieval feel and I'm quite attracted to it.
Fifth impression = Love the feet. It really sets off and fits the
entire theme.
Sixth impression = That finial is OK but too overpowering. It draws
too much attention to itself and pulls me away from the rest of the piece.
I would have preferred to have seen something more cone shaped (flattened
cone) perhaps with vertical carved lines to better match the carvings of
the lid and box walls and compliment, rather than overwhelm, this work of
art.
Seventh impression = After looking at the inside cover of the lid my heart
sunk. What a beautiful burl it must have been. I would have
preferred that this beautiful work had been done on a more boring piece of
wood and the burl saved for a design that showed off the figure.
Overall impression = Wonderful piece that I would have been very proud to
have been the creator of or lucky owner.
Craig - Adrian, Michigan
I have pulled this piece up many times to view and to
pull together some of my thoughts about it. As a novice, looking at
a beautiful piece, I really like it. Since I don't know much about
arts and crafts design, I will comment purely on what I see as a buyer or
gallery visitor:
Is the "knob" on the top of the box called a finial?? See,
I told you I was a novice. Anyway, I think that you could rethink
the design of the "finial". It doesn't seem to tie in with
the rest of the design. Also, the lid seems to be more elegantly finished
than the rest of the piece. Should this be? I love the colors, and
your carving. It reminds me of the designs that I saw in the arts and
crafts section of the Institute of Art in Chicago. So, I think you have
captured the philosophy. They had a whole section of Frank Lloyd Wright
and arts and crafts combined in one area.
It is difficult to critique another's work, when you aren't accomplished
in that particular area yourself. But, here goes. You asked
for it.
Connie - Cleveland, Ohio
Having reviewed the prior comments, I agree with the
"old" English commentary. It does seem to me that the
bottom is a bit too busy & "masculine" with the contrasting
top being "feminine". While mated nicely, I try to avoid mixing
the two in a piece. The tree seems to be a bit much and over emphasizes
the carving, thus detracting from the balance of the price.
Without question this a nice gallery piece which would attract significant
attention. The finial is a bit of distraction as others have noted.
However it is in tune with the feminine character of the top.
A nice concept well executed and hard to criticize in any way.
Royce - Wichita, Kansas USA
This piece evokes a lotus floating on a screen of
mountains and clouds. Purple mountains majesty, etc. I don't know
why you would want to compare it to the second piece because though they
are similar in shape, their impact is very different. Beautiful
work. Yes, you can send it to me if you draw my name.
Linda
|
