What is art? Wait, no, don’t like that, too broad. What is wood burl art? Yeah, yeah, a lil’ better. Please enjoy this (slightly ridiculous) post: Wood Burl (Art?).
Oh, You Again... with the Wood Burls
Originally, “Burl Bowls something-something” would be today’s post, but that seems less appropriate now.
Why?
Mostly because I still haven’t made an actual bowl with any off these burl specimens, a triviality I”m sure no one will mind…
So, for today, we’re just gonna go with “wood burl art,” considering these hunks of wood, these warty tree nuisances, are providing less functional utility with each burl specimen.
You... You Are a SOMETHING!
My first real opportunity to make a burl bowl!
Wait, you just said these weren’t bowls? You said “wood burl art,” no?
Well, you see, young padawan, every wood burl starts off as a bowl… (until your humble [yet overzealous, at times] servant destroys them).
So, this woody fellow had a chance of becoming a burl bowl… at one point. Albeit, oblong, egg-like in shape, it could have served this purpose.
It could have been a salad bowl.
So, naturally, after successfully busting through the sidewall, I did what any professional amateur ineffectual burl bowl maker guy would do. I put the thing out of sight and out of mind, potentially never to see the light of day… ever.
Little did I know, Poppy had other plans. He saw wood burl art.
Turning the blown sidewalls (there were actually two holes) into opportunity, Poppy transformed a lowly bowl into a piece of steampunk wood burl art.
And by steampunk art, I mean he nailed two small pieces of brass to cover the holes… so, totally steampunk…
What to do with this steampunk burl bowl that is no longer a bowl?
I’m so glad you asked.
Well, the first thing I did was let it sit on our back porch for a couple of months. Inadvertently, my inaction yielded positive results. As the wood burl sat, it got soaked and re-soaked by rain.
When I finally picked the darn thing up again, I realized the unseasoned, green wood had become quite pliable.
Time to get out the spoon gouge and sandpaper..
After a maniacal amount of gouging and sanding, I readied the burl for shelacking.
At some point during the gouging, sanding and sweating, I realized what to do with the steampunk burl.
Meet “Grotto 2.0.”
I like the shape more, it better mimics the “bath tub Mary’s” around the neighborhood. It’s also compact, sitting tightly to the tree. Lastly, it’s an actual wood burl. Grotto 1.0 wasn’t a burl, just a weird shaped log instead.
Can’t have that.
What to do with Grotto 1.0?
There’s function to this hunk of wood. It’s tough to see gradient here, but this spot is slightly inclined. Mulch and bird seed kept spilling out over the edge.
The “planted” log will give support to the small bank, while providing a little bird bath for our frequent visitors.
I like that.
Brain.Camel.Oyster Burl
What?… What are you??!!!
This funky wood burl was a gift from a family member. To protect the identity of this person, we’ll call him Ron… wait, no, don’t like that.
His name is Sean, or John, rather.
Yeah, John. OK.
So, Tom and I are standing around a campfire last summer, right?
And, he’s says: “Hey, JR. I’ve got a present for you.”
And, I’m like: “Oooooh, I like presents.”
Next thing I know, bingo bango. I got myself a new wood burl project to work on.
Luckily for me, this burl is such a twisted blob of chunk, it wouldn’t be appropriate for a bowl. Therefore, no burn.
I’d have to sand pretty hard to screw this one up.
Back to where we started, the “what is this” conversation is especially apropros here.
Does anyone need a paper weight?
Unsolicited Advice
Feeling… I dunno… cooped up?
Put this jazzy playlist (exactly in this order) into your jukebox and go for a walk.
You’ll be smilin’ in no time.
- Move It – The Chantays
- Rum Runner – The Surfriders
- Surf Scene – The Surfaris
- Dream at Dusk – The Surfaris
- Volcanic Action – The Belairs
- Watusi Zombie – Jan Davis
- Surf Beat – Dick Dale and the Del Tones
- *Bonus Track* – Surfer Boogie – The Lively Ones
Leo says it’s the best 18 minutes of his day.
Conclusion
If you made it this far (highly unlikely), I’d like to extend a warm thank you for enduring this gibbering prattle.
These are tough times indeed, but that doesn’t mean we can’t laugh, create, love…
Take care.
