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To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl
The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale- Regular price
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Description
Description
A unique look at the life of a woodturning legend - Bob Stocksdale. Using text transcribed from audio tapes and never-before-seen photographs, the author reveals Stocksdale's bowl turning techniques, his life's story, and much more.
Details
Details
| Pages | 160 |
|---|---|
| Publish Date | 2009-05-01 |
| Series | |
| Size | 8.0" x 8.0" x 0.34" |
| Author | Ron Roszkiewicz |
Reviews
Reviews
a
and I am one of those people. I'm disappointed that I was never able to include one of Stocksdale's peices in my collection.
I recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the history of woodturning and wants to look into the daily life of one of the true masters of the lathe. I read a prepublication copy of the book and the price was unknown at the time. I am looking forward to its publication date, because this book with definately be added to my library.
I absolutely enjoyed the book. When I started woodturning, Stocksdale was one of the premier artists of the time, and a lot of turners emulated his style and forms. Though he didn't teach or write articles or books, he managed to influence an entire contingent of budding turners during the time turning was making its comeback
a
and I am one of those people. I'm disappointed that I was never able to include one of Stocksdale's peices in my collection.
I recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the history of woodturning and wants to look into the daily life of one of the true masters of the lathe. I read a prepublication copy of the book and the price was unknown at the time. I am looking forward to its publication date, because this book with definately be added to my library.
I absolutely enjoyed the book. When I started woodturning, Stocksdale was one of the premier artists of the time, and a lot of turners emulated his style and forms. Though he didn't teach or write articles or books, he managed to influence an entire contingent of budding turners during the time turning was making its comeback
t
turners out there, his tips and tricks to turn that perfect bowl.
In one of the quotes, Mr. Stocksdale says that he tries to bring out the inner beauty of the wood. Perhaps this is what makes him an exceptional artist. Throughout the pages of the book, we see one example after another where he seems to be connected with the wood, knowing what lies within the outer layers. As I read the book I was reminded of Michelangelo saying that, with his statue of David, he just chipped away anything that wasn't David! That special connection that an artist has with the material he is working with takes a beautiful piece of work and makes it exceptional.
Here at LumberJocks.com our members share their personal journeys of attaining this level of connection with wood. Some of us may never reach that pinnacle but will definitely enjoy the journey, especially when we are inspired by such work as that of Bob Stocksdale and books such as To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl.
My Ratings of The Book
Layout and Appearance: Wonderful balance of photographs, interview questions, and quotes from letters and news clippings. Thumbs Up!
Instructions: Lots of tidbits of information tucked away in the interview. Thumbs Up!
Inspiration: "in leaps and bounds". Thumbs Up!
Overall: Thumbs Up!
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl is basically an interview with Bob Stocksdale, one of the bowl
s
some 50 examples of his work. The "perfect" bowl of the title may not be among them, but you can quickly see what shapes and curves obviously captivated Stocksdale, because they occur repeatedly.
What's also striking to me is how carefully Stocksdale shaped his bowls so that the wood grain and figure had maximum impact. That's no accident. Roszkiewicz writes:
"Bob Stocksdale's approach to bowl making was workmanlike and efficient. Wiith each cut, new wood emerged and he often stopped to calculate the effect of continuing on the current path or altering the design."
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl won't teach you woodturning technique. But the inspiration and insight it does provide are worth it all.
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl, by Ron Roszkiewicz, is based largely on lengthy interviews the author taped with Stocksdale in 1987. Roszkiewicz writes that his objective "is to provide a snapshot of a few days in the studio of an American original and to hear him describe his life and work in that comfort zone."
Born and raised in Indiana, Stocksdale turned his first bowl during WWII when, as a conscientious objector, he was detained in a work camp in Michigan. After the war he settled in Berkeley, California, where he lived and worked until he died in 2003. Among his first clients were Gump's, the legendary upscale San Francisco giftware store; Nieman Marcus, equally legendary and equally upscale; and Georg Jensen and Bonnier's, stores that did much to popularize Scandinavian design in this country after WWII.
To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl reproduces letters to Stocksdale from those stores, and describes in considerable detail how Stocksdale chose his wood, roughed it out with chain saw and band saw, and how he worked at the lathe. But for me the most valuable part of the book is the photography
c
classical" movement in the woodturning field in the future, that celebrates Bob's aesthetic and brings balance to the field."
"I came to know Bob and Kay during the decade I was managing del Mano Gallery and my wife and I would drive up to visit them often. In the years since, I've found that the aesthetic embraced by Bob and his fellow pioneering woodturners has given way to works that are overly tricky and clever. Although I'm a fan of a lot of the sculptural work being created today, I feel that something has been lost in the move away from fine bowl forms in beautiful woods and believe that we'll see a "neo
i
it's a snapshot of an American original.
About the Author: Ron Roszkiewicz began his career in the woodworking industry 30 years ago with Woodcraft Supply.
He became an integral figure in advancing woodturning in the United States by discovering and importing much of the innovative turning tools relied upon by woodturners today. He has also written The Woodturner's Companion and
TheWoodturner's Art.
About the Book: During the woodturning renaissance of the 1970s, one man emerged as the inspiration for scores of newwoodturners.His namewas Bob Stocksdale. Extraordinarily talented, Stocksdale began turning bowls in the 1940s andwas a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. This unique talent, combined with his gifted use of simple tools, became the trademark of his work. With pieces in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, he became an unassuming celebrity who set the standard for woodturning excellence. In 1987, author Ron Roszkiewicz had the once in
i
it's a snapshot of an American original.
About the Author: Ron Roszkiewicz began his career in the woodworking industry 30 years ago with Woodcraft Supply.
He became an integral figure in advancing woodturning in the United States by discovering and importing much of the innovative turning tools relied upon by woodturners today. He has also written The Woodturner's Companion and
TheWoodturner's Art.
About the Book: During the woodturning renaissance of the 1970s, one man emerged as the inspiration for scores of newwoodturners.His namewas Bob Stocksdale. Extraordinarily talented, Stocksdale began turning bowls in the 1940s andwas a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. This unique talent, combined with his gifted use of simple tools, became the trademark of his work. With pieces in the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, he became an unassuming celebrity who set the standard for woodturning excellence. In 1987, author Ron Roszkiewicz had the once in
2
2002) is arguably the dean of American woodturners. His selection of material, masterful technique, and attention to detail set the gold standard for wood turning excellence from the early 1970's onward.
An intimate look at the turner, his approach to wood turning, and his life long quest to turn the perfect bowl.
Bob Stocksdale (1913
2
2002) is arguably the dean of American woodturners. His selection of material, masterful technique, and attention to detail set the gold standard for wood turning excellence from the early 1970's onward.
An intimate look at the turner, his approach to wood turning, and his life long quest to turn the perfect bowl.
Bob Stocksdale (1913
s
step instruction and excellent advice on how best to turn a bowl and platter, as well as how to sharpen tools, sanding and finishing tips. This is a very unusual publication and is perfect if you are looking to learn more about the Father of American woodturning.
For the carvers among you that like to dabble with turning, then take a look at this book, based on the story of Bob
Stocksdale who emerged as the inspirational figure for many new woodturners during the 1970s. Stocksdale became known for his wooden bowls,and was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. The pages reveal an in
s
step instruction and excellent advice on how best to turn a bowl and platter, as well as how to sharpen tools, sanding and finishing tips. This is a very unusual publication and is perfect if you are looking to learn more about the Father of American woodturning.
For the carvers among you that like to dabble with turning, then take a look at this book, based on the story of Bob
Stocksdale who emerged as the inspirational figure for many new woodturners during the 1970s. Stocksdale became known for his wooden bowls,and was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. The pages reveal an in
p
person show. It was an honor to show with him at that time as it is now to have my work appear alongside his in the collections of many museums.
Bob was unphased by the new attention being focused on woodturning, and unswayed by the new generation's impatience with the traditions of craftsmanship. Throughout his long career, he maintained the same focus and pure vision, producing bowls whose form and grace hold their own against the backdrop of contemporary innovation and stylistic exploration.
I have always regarded Bob Stocksdale as the consummate craftsman, the epitome of old world craftsmanship in "the new world." During the time that the studio woodturning movement was developing within American craft, Bob was already long established as a highly successful and respected professional woodturner, in a league all his own. My professional relationship with Bob began in 1978 when our work was exhibited, along with that of my father and Ed Moulthrop, in a show at the Renwick Gallery, the first exhibition of studio woodturning held by a major museum. The following year, I met Bob for the first time when The Elements Gallery in New York gave us a two
p
person show. It was an honor to show with him at that time as it is now to have my work appear alongside his in the collections of many museums.
Bob was unphased by the new attention being focused on woodturning, and unswayed by the new generation's impatience with the traditions of craftsmanship. Throughout his long career, he maintained the same focus and pure vision, producing bowls whose form and grace hold their own against the backdrop of contemporary innovation and stylistic exploration.
I have always regarded Bob Stocksdale as the consummate craftsman, the epitome of old world craftsmanship in "the new world." During the time that the studio woodturning movement was developing within American craft, Bob was already long established as a highly successful and respected professional woodturner, in a league all his own. My professional relationship with Bob began in 1978 when our work was exhibited, along with that of my father and Ed Moulthrop, in a show at the Renwick Gallery, the first exhibition of studio woodturning held by a major museum. The following year, I met Bob for the first time when The Elements Gallery in New York gave us a two
s
step instructions from the artist are designed to help woodworking novices and carpenters "find the natural beauty in the wood," and newspaper clippings and personal correspondence from the artist are also included. (Annotation 2009 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Roszkiewicz, an independent author, spent a week in 1987 with master woodturner Bob Stocksdale in order to document his life and work, and this illustrated volume was transcribed directly from the audiotapes of the original interviews. The author includes dozens of photographs to illustrate Stocksdale's methods for turning wooden bowls into unique works of art that have been shown in such places as the Smithsonian and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Step
1
1. pap. $24.95. ART INSTRUCTION Born on an Indiana dirt farm in 1913, Bob Stockdale was a pioneer in the art of fine wooden bowls, legendary for his exotic woods, unique shapes, and sumptuous finishes. Stockdale described his methods in a Q&A format to author Roszkiewicz before his death in 2003 at the age of 89. Valuable for those who make or love crafts.
Roszkiewicz, Ron. To Turn the Perfect Wooden Bowl: The Lifelong Quest of Bob Stocksdale. Fox Chapel. 2009. c.160p. illus. ISBN 978
s
step instructions supplied by Bob
Stocksdale and his excellent advice on how best to turn a bowl and platter, as well as sharpening tools, sanding and
finishing tips. This is a very unusual book and is perfect if you are looking to learn more about Bob Stocksdale himself.
This book is based on the story of Bob Stocksdale who emerged as the inspirational figure for many new woodturners during the woodturning renaissance of the 1970s. Stocksdale became known for his wooden bowls and was a master at finding the natural beauty in wood. The book, written by Ron Roszkiewicz was written following a one week stay in Stocksdale's home workshop. It describes his life and works, and also features never
f
filled loft and he to his basement workshop, with catacomblike areas stacked with chunks of trees, rough turned bowls and planks of wood on which to display his completed works.
The small format of To Tum the Perfect Wooden Bowl, which measures 8" square, perfectly reflects Bob Stocksdale's humble approach.
This book shares the life and work of Bob Stocksdale, an artist who led a quiet revolution in the field of contemporary craft. The impact the artist has had on tile field of contemporary woodturning is undeniable and this small volume will undoubtedly
make his approach accessible to future generations of woodtuners.
The home and srudio Stocksdale shared with his wife, fibre artist Kay Sekimachi, was a testament to both his work ethic and embrace of a modest lifestyle. Every morning, following breakfast, the two would "go to work"
a
answer format, Stocksdale explains how he stored and selected wood, shares techniques, and much more.
TO TURN THE PERFECT WOODEN BOWL: THE LIFELONG QUEST OF BOB STOCKSDALE, by Ron Roszkiewicz, is a unique look at the life of the late Bob Stocksdale, a pioneer in the wood art movement. Using never
