Beautiful Bowls

John creates gorgeous pieces of sculptural art also known, rather conveniently, as bowls.

Every piece begins with the timber itself. Rather than trying to disguise knots, cracks, unusual grain or other natural markings, John works with them, often using pigments and inks to draw attention to the character already hiding in the wood. Living and working in Cornwall, and spending rather a lot of time by the coast, it’s perhaps inevitable that many of his pieces become sunset seascapes, stormy skies and wild Cornish oceans.

John also enjoys a challenge and, somewhat inexplicably, maths so many of his bowls feature unusual rims, curves and carefully considered edges. They can look beautifully simple when they’re finished, although considerably more thinking, measuring and head-scratching has usually gone into them than they let on.

He is particularly fond of spalted timber. Spalting occurs naturally when fungi begin to create beautiful lines, patterns and changes of colour within the wood. John uses these unpredictable markings as part of the design, meaning the timber gets quite a significant say in how the finished piece turns out.

From small, functional bowls and platters made to be used every day to large, one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces made simply to be looked at, there is, apparently, a bowl for everything.

To see, touch and properly appreciate them in person, head to John’s display in Charlestown — or browse his latest pieces on Etsy.