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Natural-Edge Curly White Ash
Hollow Vessel with Bark Inclusions

This natural edge hollow vessel was created from the base section of a white ash tree with natural bark inclusions. Like many of my creations, this piece of wood sat in my shop for a period of time. Several times a week it was rotated to a different view and position so that I could reflect on what it wanted to become before the actual turning process started. When working with natural bark extra effort is required to keep the bark intact. Successfully executed pieces with bark inclusions can truly set a turning apart from others by the contrast of textures and color.

This one-of-a-kind vessel is called "A Friend's Piece" - salvaged from a firewood pile through a friend of a friend. After seeing the finished turning, each friend wanted a piece just like it. "A Friend's Piece" was the only wood turning that was recently accepted into the 20th Annual National Exhibit at the Hoyt Institute of Fine Arts for 2001. Starting with a log weighing over 20 lbs. and ending in the finely finished piece weighing less than a pound, work of this type often takes up to six months to complete.