Coloured bowls

[Paul Hannaby]

Here are a few coloured bowls made from beech, sycamore, elm and maple. The base is textured acrylic gesso, coloured with acrylic airbrush paints. A couple of the bowls have pearlescent paints.

Comments welcome.

 

[CHJ]

Regardless of the smooth forms of the bowls, to me there would appear to be as much if not more skill involved in getting the smooth blended and graduated colours.


Do you see any deterioration of such fine finishes with time and wood movement, or are the acrylics flexible enough to withstand any flex ?

 

[gregmcateer]

Very nice, Paul
Greg

 

[Paul Hannaby]

I haven't noticed any problems with the finish due to movement of the wood but generally speaking, the wood is going to contract slightly after the finishing so it wouldn't be noticeable anyway.

 

[yorkshirepudding]

Hi Paul, I've done a few bowls with gesso finish and never had a problem with movement. Any tips on acquiring a smooth finish though? That is eluding me at the moment.

 

[winemaker]

Nice, must try it one day

 

[Vic Perrin]

Hi Paul, they look stunning, I would love to have a go at colouring but I feel I lack the artistic skills and nerve to have a go.

Vic

 

[Silverbirch]

I like the contemporary, modern style of these very much.

Ian

 

[nev]

Its the simple, smooth curves that do it for me
That said, I do like the colouring too ( though I did have to look up gesso )

 

[Dalboy]

Six very nice bowls the simple lines and the colouring set them apart from other turnings that I have seen. The bottom left and right with the gesso showing was this applied while the bowls were still on the lathe, they have just enough texture as not to distract from the colouring and shape

 

[yorkshirepudding]

Hi Paul, they look stunning, I would love to have a go at colouring but I feel I lack the artistic skills and nerve to have a go?
Vic

Hi Vic,
Lack of artistic talent need not be a handicap. Set the lathe to slow speed and using a flat small paintbrush, apply the gesso in thin layers. I find a hairdryer between Coates helps. Still with the lathe spinning apply acrylic paint to your design. Fade in/out is simpler with a little practice. Finish with gloss acrylic lacquer from aerosol. Job done.

Don't forget to cover the lathe bed!!

 

[Paul Hannaby]

I use a quite different technique - a single thick coat of gesso roughly applied. Then the lathe is set to a suitably slow speed (to avoid the white stripe on the smock!) and the gesso is textured with a coarse round brush. The sort you often see for sale cheap.

The green/blue bowl is textured with an affro comb. If you see what hair I have left you would see I have no other use for such a comb! Other impliments can be used for texturing such as toothed adhesive spreaders and things like that.

With the airbrushing, remember to add paint gradually, you can build it up easily enough but once overdone it can be difficult to fix. Because I'm not looking for a smooth surface I finish with satin finish aerosol acrylic lacquer. I'm not looking for a shiny finish.

Don't be afraid to experiment because if you don't like the result, it's easy enough to turn the surface back to bare wood and start again.

I never try to achieve a smooth surface to the gesso but if you did want to do that, you just let it dry and sand it.

I have some other ideas I'm planning with gesso so watch this space.

 

[yorkshirepudding]

I wait with interest Paul. I've not tried a thick coat but shall try it soon. I will give the porcelain/wood look I've been after. I don't have an airbrush but have not had a problem with fade/transition using a brush. Thanks for posting the pics. When I learn how to post photos I will show some of mine.

 

[KimG]

Very nice Paul, I really like the pastel colours.

I have got an airbrush on my wishlist, they seem pretty expensive though.

 

[henton49er]

I like the shapes and colours very much, Paul. Gives me some ideas for my own turnings - if only I could get time in the shed!!

 

[nicguthrie]

Really nice pieces. I especially like the smoothly graduated colours and simple forms, they look more like tastefully expensive crockery than turnings tho!

Do you often get confused looks when people pick then up, due to the weight and feel marking them as non-ceramic?

Do you make your own gesso, or buy it pre made?

You know you've done a great job when Kim is complimenting your colour work

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