Coloring wood

[GBF]

What are you views on coloring wood  and which do you think sells best.

[Les Symonds]

Way back in the 60s I was taught woodwork by a teacher who believed strongly that wood should not be stained, and his influence rubbed off on me. However, in the last year or so I have come to appreciate that colour can add a further point of interest to a piece and I have started experimenting with it. So far, I have sent four or five pieces out to the galleries and they have been received very favourably indeed by the gallery owners. The attitude seems to have been that the colour takes them further away from being utilitarian and more into the realm of art.
As for which sells the better; I'm yet to discover, but am having fun finding out.

Les

[TWiG]

I personally am not keen on it at all , most of what I see looks gaudy , I suppose it is a way of jazzing up a bit of bland wood but often It resembles something made of plastic .   I have seen a few examples where it is nice but would rather see a decent bit of wood any day ,  this is WOOD turning after all !!  Terry...

[Richard Findley]

The way I see it is that there seems to be some who are really good at it - Nice Agar and Joey Richardson immediately spring to mind. The problem is that most people aren't so good at it, I've seen a lot of bowls that look like they've been involved in an accident in a paint factory!

I must admit that it's not my bag but I can certainly appreciate a good piece. Imo less is very often more!

Richard

[Bryan Milham]

George, I'm biased, I like coloured wood but I'll note something Mark Baker said,

'When they put coloured wood on the cover of the Woodturning Magazine they have a 40% drop in sales in the UK that month, and a 40% rise in sales over the rest of the world.'

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

Not sure if I have done enough colouring of my own to qualify me to comment on this subject. Remember the piece I made that was inspired by Mondrian? well I have never had a piece sell so quick ever. But not sure if that would be classified as coloured?

[TWiG]

This is about the only colouring I do and most of it is scorching ... Ash 18" dia and 5" deep

[GBF]

Very nice not a bit Gaudy

Regards George

[Les Symonds]

This is about the only colouring I do and most of it is scorching ... Ash 18" dia and 5" deep

Hi Terry...might I be so bold as to ask what process you used for that piece...did you have to avoid scorching the areas where you stained, or did the stain take through the scorching?
Les

[farmerphil]

Haven't got a clue about selling but give me unadulterated wood every time

[malcy]

I have no problems with coloured wood. I have made platters with different colours and patterns on the rims and have sold a few (I don't really try to sell my work). Blue seems to go down well. I don't see a lot of difference between ebonisimg, scorching or colouring/painting. Malcolm.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

There must be something in it, just look at how everyone loves a vibrantly coloured piece of Yew, and those bits always sell well.

[Paul Hannaby]

I colour and/or texture quite a few things I make but I also like a nice piece of wood with plenty of character too.

One thing I would say though, colouring does nothing to improve something that was badly made in the first place. For example, I see many things where, in my opinion, the shape just doesn't work and no amount of colour will rescue that.

[Les Symonds]

....One thing I would say though, colouring does nothing to improve something that was badly made in the first place......

.....or something that was badly finished. Indeed, nothing highlights a poor finish, be it scratched or tear-out, like any type of stain or applied colour!

Les

[Mark Sanger]

I like it all.