This is close to the largest piece I've ever turned. This was a slab of Big Leaf Maple burl that I've had for years just waiting for the right project. It is 10 1/2 inches in diameter and about an 1 1/4 inch thick over all. The bottom is turned like a platter, and the top is turned for the purpose of carving. The center is a convex dome. I learned the techniques for doing this from the Doug Fisher, a turner and sculptor from British Columbia when he demonstrated his techniques at the Southwest Association of Turners the end of August. Here is a link to his website gallery. He specializes in NW Coastal Native American art, the kind of figures you see on totems.
http://www.douglasjfisher.com/pacific_coast_native_art.htmlMy pastor and his wife just finished building a new house, and we're having a house warming for them. I did this piece as my gift to them. I carved icons of the Christian faith as the main features on the dome. Once the platter is turned and carved, it is totally covered with black India ink. Then the surface ink is sanded off, and then the different features are dyed the desired colors. Then many coats of lacquer.
Porter if this is too far off the beaten path, feel free to remove it.
Enjoy
The front
The back
