Thank you all. I have always done very rustic pieces and then, influenced by Mark Sanger, started looking at oriental shapes and forms. When I started combining the two he put me on to the wabi sabi ethos which I was unknowingly following. Whilst, turning fulltime, I have to make what people want, these pieces using old, reclaimed or damaged (naturally) wood has become my main artistic work and is what I am putting into galleries slowly so I suppose the answer is yes, this type of work is becoming my signature work and what I have been asked to demonstrate though usually it is evening demos which makes for a lot of pre-done work as you can't make something from scratch like this in a couple of hours LOL.
For me there is something special about using wood that many would throw away or cut all the defects out of and using wood that has been worn and aged. You never quite know what you will end up with and putting the pieces together as in this one is part of it all.
The hollow form is sat, not fixed, on a plinth at the top of the base and the hazel twig is pinned and glued the the finial.
Finding the gnarly pieces is all about keeping your eyes open. Hedgerows, skips, tree surgeons, gardeners, old house renovations etc.
Pete
