The Design Process

By Ken Deaner

                  I have been turning for a number of years.  When I first began turning I took a block of wood and hoped that I could make a bowl out of it.  I attended many demonstrations and listened carefully to the instructors.  Often I would watch the demonstrator draw pictures of what they were doing.  Jim Diamond is very clear about carefully drafting a plan before he begins a new project.  Bob Brady will often follow mathematical formulas to achieve his goal.  It has taken me many years to get the message.  Turning a bowl is not difficult but turning a bowl well requires planning.

The first step in designing a bowl well is to create in your head a picture of what you would like to do.  This may begin while you are looking at TV, skimming through books of art, or trying to fall asleep.  The second step in designing a bowl well is to take a pad and pencil and put your ideas to paper.  Draw the shape you are looking for. Draw out the way you would like to decorate your project.  If you can draw the design on paper you have a fighting chance of doing it on your project.  Drawing your ideas for a three dimensional project on a piece of paper is not easy.  Try to draw one segment at a time.

Go to the lathe and try to duplicate the form.  Draw your design on the bare wood and begin the process of making the pencil lines permanent. 

The most difficult part of creating a project is knowing that your work may not come out the way you originally intended.  A slip of the gouge and the project may end up on the fire pile.  A slip of the tool may also allow for a design change that enhances your work.  That change may lead you on a path of discovery not originally intended.  However, reproducing the mistake should not lead to many subsequent mistakes.  At some point you should become comfortable with a form that becomes your signature.  It may not be a masterpiece but it is a piece that you can reproduce competently.  When you reach this stage you have developed a mastery that will allow you to test new design waters.

Take the form you can competently reproduce a number of times and begin to plan how to decorate it.  Try not to think about messing up the piece.  You know that you can reproduce the form so that making a mistake will not be the end of the world. 
 

"One person whom is missing from the long list of supporters for the LIWA is probably the most important and is too reserved to add his own name is  Kenneth Deaner. Without  Ken's excellent, and tireless devotion in producing this monthly Newsletter much of the information contained within this site just would not be available. Thanks Ken for everything you do to assist me in the keeping this site in the news."

Peter Ward  (Webmaster)

A Banner School Year 2002-2003

The 2002-2003 school year has been a great year for the LIWA.  The LIWA has grown in membership.  We introduced video to make viewing demonstrations easier for all.  The demonstrations by visiting turners as well as club members was of a very high standard.  We learned stave construction, segmented turning, hollow turning, vessels of illusion, how to do lidded spaceship like vessels, how to inlay, texture and decorate.  We made both large and small bird houses and more.  Our library grew and materials are now being returned on time.  We demonstrated at the Long Island Woodworking Show, and currently have our work on display at the Rockville Center Library.  Many members have opened their shops to other members.  We placed a club band saw blade order that saved the membership money.  Our lathe was updated to solve the problem of the “gap.”  Cake and coffee was available at every meeting.  We made a donation of work to BOCES to thank them for allowing us to use their fine facility.  The list continues to grow.  We have planned a BBQ for our July and August meetings at member’s homes. 

The club is strong because everyone pitches in.  Thanks to the officers and program chair for their hard work.  Thanks to all of the members who demonstrated.  Thanks to the members who opened their shop doors to teach newer members how to turn.  Thanks to those who made the coffee each month.  Thanks to those who demonstrated at the LI Woodworkers Show and those who set up library exhibits.  Thanks to those who picked guest turners up at airports in heavy traffic, showed them NYC and gave them room and board. Thanks to those who cleaned up after every meeting.  Thanks to those who maintained our library.  Thanks to those who served as cameramen at our demonstrations.  Thanks to those who wrote  grant proposals with new ideas for the club. Thanks to those who served on the AV committee. Thanks to those who maintained our lathe.  Thanks to those who picked up the lunches for the guest demonstrations.  Thanks to the members who made their home shops available for Club meetings. Thank to the sung and unsung who pitched in and made this year one of the best ever for the club.

                  We still have a long way to go.  Some members would like to do a teen outreach.  Some would like to have more library exhibits.  Some would like more outside demonstrators.  Some would like to have competitions within the club. Some would like to participate in the A.A.W Club Cooperative Turning Competition at the Symposium.  Some would like audio as well as video at our meetings.  Some members have not made their ideas public or put them down on paper.

If you cannot count yourself among the many who made a contribution to the club over the last year please consider what you can do for the Club next year. Paying your dues is a small part of belonging to the Club.  The LIWA is only as good as the sum of its members’ hard work. The membership list will be updated and those who have not paid their dues this year will not receive the newsletter in the future.  We look forward to a great 2003-2004 club year and a wonderful summer.

We hope to see you all at Bob Urso’s home in July and Bob Brady’s home in August.