Hand Carved Bowls by David Fisher

These photos and their explanations should help provide an idea of the process I use to carve bowls and spoons. This method allows me to work closely with nature and intuitively with my senses.

Sculpting a bowl is a gradual process that allows me to sculpt forms with gradual and complex curves.    The responsiveness of sharp edge tools allows me to consider the character and nature of each tree. 

Not only are these tools necessary to the way I work, they are efficient, and  a joy to use.  I can remove a lot of material quickly with a heavy swing and a sharp adze.  This same tool can later be used to remove whisper thin chips as I near the final surface.  On just about all of my pieces, I prefer to leave the final surface straight from the final slices of the tools. This "tooled finish" takes care and time, but leaves a surface with character.  People are often surprised at how pleasing it is to touch. This sliced surface is also excellent in use.  It doesn't "fuzz up" when wet as a sanded surface often does.

The photos are basically sequential, beginning with bowlcarving then going on to spooncarving.  When you click on an image, an enlarged version with an explanation will appear.

Be safe.  These tools can cut you badly.  Focus, think, don't work when distracted or tired.  Make sure you feel you can work safely before you proceed.