Review: Steve Kearvell – Sunday 22nd June, 2025

This month’s write up is taken from John’s report in the July newsletter. I have added photos.

Bud Vase

Steve began with a small bud vase in beech, 5x3x3 inches. The shape was done with a roughing out gouge and spindle gouge.

The shape was quite detailed but these vases can be many shapes and sizes. If you intend to use a plastic waterproof insert make sure there is a loose fit. Sanding was done with a hand rotating tool. Sanding sealer applied followed by wax.

Wide Rimmed Platter

The next project was a wide rimmed platter with a gold leaf decoration. The wood was beech 10x2x2 inches, although sycamore is also a good choice. The back was completed in the usual way, fingernail bowl gouge (push cuts, pull cuts and shear cuts), then sand, seal and polish.

Now to the front. Mark out the rim, about 2 inches. Steve decided to do a raised bead at this mark using a gouge. This was then coloured black using artists gesso, although you could use a spray of ebonising black, just mask off the back to prevent overspray.

Now you can complete the turning of the rim to a suitable thickness, sand and seal. As this rim is to be covered with coloured foil the surface must be perfect. The rim was then treated with acrylic size and left to become tacky then the flimsy foil applied. For this a very soft make-up brush is the best tool. Finally, complete the turning of the centre, sand and polish. The foil had a spray of Acrylic lacquer applied.

Colouring and Texturing Techniques

In the afternoon Steve showed us a good range of colouring and texturing techniques.

Use of water based stains. These are easily applied, blended sanded and covered with oil or melamine. Fine sanding is necessary between colours.

Applying coloured waxes of which there are several colours, including gold, silver and copper Iridescent acrylic colours on black. Applied with paper, brushes including a fan brush, fingers etc.

The next technique was to use an air brush with some random shape templates. Several colours were used to create quite a stunning blend.

Steve used the Sorby texturing tool (borrow one from our Library) and the texture was sprayed black and finally sanded back the high points. Colour was then applied.