Thread: My Summer Extravaganza Entries

Wonderful work Ironwood. You wont get criticisms from me, just adulations.
(Because I don't turn & can't appreciate the difficulties you faced or skills required, I'm unqualified to criticise)
To me, the objective with design selection & wood turning / finishing is to display the beauty of wood to best effect. You do that. Well done.
Next year, you will do better no doubt.

Euge

Well done and as you pointed out the pictures don't sparkle so likely didn't get the "Ooouuu shiny!" vote.

I think if the kitless pen had other "proud" features other than the clip, like some rings on the barrel it would have looked like it belonged. It stands out to some because the rest of the pen is sleek and clean. That said I don't have a problem with it.

Pete

Brad, congratulations on more fine work . We all know you are your harshest critic but if we could match your pen making and photography skills there would be a lot of happy turners. But, as they say, "as soon as you're satisfied with your work, you go backwards", and that's not likely to happen to you.. And a question - how do you get the mechanism to work on the one piece Slimline?

Cheers, Gary

Originally Posted by Euge

Wonderful work Ironwood. You wont get criticisms from me, just adulations.
(Because I don't turn & can't appreciate the difficulties you faced or skills required, I'm unqualified to criticise)
To me, the objective with design selection & wood turning / finishing is to display the beauty of wood to best effect. You do that. Well done.
Next year, you will do better no doubt.

Euge

Thanks very much Euge.
I think everyone is qualified to critique. Maybe if you are not a turner, its hard to comment or criticise on how it was done, but you can certainly critique the outcome.
As a pen user, would you be happy to use this, if not, why etc. I value everyones opinion.
And yes, I do strive to do better next time.

Originally Posted by QC Inspector

Well done and as you pointed out the pictures don't sparkle so likely didn't get the "Ooouuu shiny!" vote.

I think if the kitless pen had other "proud" features other than the clip, like some rings on the barrel it would have looked like it belonged. It stands out to some because the rest of the pen is sleek and clean. That said I don't have a problem with it.

Pete

Thanks for your thoughts Pete. Getting the "Shiny" look is something I always struggle with in my photos. I can do them outside in the shade of my house, trouble is, most times they are too shiny for that and you can't see most of the blank. I need to find the middle ground somehow.
Putting extra rings on the caps of my pens is something I will probably do as I get more experienced, I need to get the basics in line and mastered first though. I like the look of the swaged rings.
Your point about the sleek look is a good one, this type/style is probably served better by a hidden ring on the clip. If done neatly with the translucent cap, it would still be a visible feature.

Originally Posted by Gary H

Brad, congratulations on more fine work . We all know you are your harshest critic but if we could match your pen making and photography skills there would be a lot of happy turners. But, as they say, "as soon as you're satisfied with your work, you go backwards", and that's not likely to happen to you.. And a question - how do you get the mechanism to work on the one piece Slimline?

Cheers, Gary

Cheers Gary. As our old mate Amos used to say, "Good, Better, Best, never Rest til its Done".

There is a tutorial in the tutorial section of this forum, Troy ( mkypenturner ) put it up but unfortunately all the pics are gone. The pdf is also gone. Read the full thread there are comments posted on how to make some improvements to the process.
If you are unsure on anything, just ask. Maybe we can get some pics put back into the thread to make things a bit clearer.
tutorial for the single piece twist pen - NEW TUTORIAL

This might be a good challenge for this month, make and post a pic of a "one-piece Slim", we need to get things happening here again.

The IAP has 3 tutorials on making a one piece slimline by 3 different people.

Pete

Good on you for having a go and representing the Aussies. Without people entering these challenges there's nothing for us to look at and aspire to. Even though you may not have achieved your ultimate goal you should be proud of what you entered. As QC says, without the shine showing up in the photos they may not have grabbed the public's attention.

Hi Ironwood, I am not backpeddling but trying to extend my comments constructively from a aesthetic point of view.

Hidden complexities in creations - my view on these as 'pieces of art' / beauty, mostly focus on the wood. To me a pen, a bowl, platter etc is a means to show beauty of wood primarily (via style design etc) It takes good design, careful selection, turning skills + good finish to achieve a startling outcome. Generally the beautiful pens I have are for display and show only. None of the best are used day to day. I may sign an important document with one "for show” if anyone was watching or cared. You invited further critique and I do this with some reservation and its. foccused on aesthetics not function (they would all work). Your skill is obvious. Choice of materials results in beauty of outcome ...

Not sure why, but the buloke figure does not quite work in enhancing the slimline pen IMO. Not sure why, may the even colour, I would have expected it would. But it IS “interesting"

Aesthetically the grey box burl pen is by far the most beautiful and balanced in shape, colour, choice of fittings … in every way ... a 9/10 from me for aesthetics

The pink plastic top and wood together somehow does not do it for me as beauty goes, Maybe its the colour combination of pink and brown or transparency of plastic.. dunno.
Although I do like colourful resin filled cracks - maybe its because the wood crack defines what is needed to be filled (an then, not too dominant).

Euge

Originally Posted by Treecycle

Good on you for having a go and representing the Aussies. Without people entering these challenges there's nothing for us to look at and aspire to. Even though you may not have achieved your ultimate goal you should be proud of what you entered. As QC says, without the shine showing up in the photos they may not have grabbed the public's attention.

Thanks Dallas. I think I was the only Aussie to enter anything this time round. With the abundance of pretty woods we have here, I think we could dominate in the Pretty Wood Comp if we tried.

Originally Posted by Euge

Hi Ironwood, I am not backpeddling but trying to extend my comments constructively from a aesthetic point of view.

Hidden complexities in creations - my view on these as 'pieces of art' / beauty, mostly focus on the wood. To me a pen, a bowl, platter etc is a means to show beauty of wood primarily (via style design etc) It takes good design, careful selection, turning skills + good finish to achieve a startling outcome. Generally the beautiful pens I have are for display and show only. None of the best are used day to day. I may sign an important document with one "for show” if anyone was watching or cared. You invited further critique and I do this with some reservation and its. foccused on aesthetics not function (they would all work). Your skill is obvious. Choice of materials results in beauty of outcome ...

Not sure why, but the buloke figure does not quite work in enhancing the slimline pen IMO. Not sure why, may the even colour, I would have expected it would. But it IS “interesting"

Aesthetically the grey box burl pen is by far the most beautiful and balanced in shape, colour, choice of fittings … in every way ... a 9/10 from me for aesthetics

The pink plastic top and wood together somehow does not do it for me as beauty goes, Maybe its the colour combination of pink and brown or transparency of plastic.. dunno.
Although I do like colourful resin filled cracks - maybe its because the wood crack defines what is needed to be filled (an then, not too dominant).

Euge

I am sorry if you felt obliged to comment after my post, I was merely trying to point out that everyone is entitled to have a say, though I am glad you did post your comments.

I do agree with your comments on the Buloke, it doesn’t quite do it. If I had a chrome kit, I would have used that instead of the gold, that may have had a more pleasing look . Maybe the longer blank doesn’t suit the busyness of the figure, not sure. It was a last minute decision to enter this comp, from the time I decided to give it a go, until I was taking photos of the finished pen was about an hour, so there wasn’t the thought put into it that I normally would. But I had fun with the exercise, and learned a few things, and that’s what it’s mainly about.

I am happy with the Grey Box Pen, it had the potential to do better than it did. I think the presentation of it in my photos let it down a bit.

Thanks for your honesty on the kitless pen. I can assure you that the cap is blood red, not pink
The red was meant to contrast with the timber, maybe it dominates too much ? Though I think it will appeal to some, you only have to watch an episode on one of those house renovation shows on tv to see the colour schemes that are apparently trendy. They certainly won’t be to many people’s tastes.
I have made pens before that I thought the colours were hideous, but then along comes someone who loves it and parts with their money to take it away, I reckon this one would find a home somewhere too.

The presentation of this pen could also benefit from some different lighting for the photos as well.

Good for you entering mate. Pics of highly glossy pens need the same treatment as chrome ,the lighting by reflection to maintain that mirror gloss. Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder becoming personal very quickly.

I shy away from dog showing ,Eistedford watching anything like that and see,experience what I call bias,also some makers are easily identified and are sought out for that reason.

I have to say Brad I like your individuality and discretion in your making.

Clearly remember a funny bloke who dreamt up and sang Tiptoe through the tulips.He had a crazy following.A Piano player with a flair for publicity they had cult status at one time or another..

Just now I am recovering from a nasty fall,looking forward to making some soon.

Kind regards Peter.

That would have been Tiny Tim. The other night I saw a lady that looked like him. She just needed the Ukulele. YouTube

I agree about the bias people can have towards/against notable turners.

Speedy recovery Peter