Customer Reviews

Woodturning: A Source Book of Shapes

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141 Pages. Full color photos of turned objects, usually one per page, type of wood and size for each object. Not much text, a "picture book". I have used this book a lot, much more variation than in single artist books. Contents: Bowls, Containers (Boxes), Bottles, Vases, Hollow forms, Closed forms, Natural Tops and Natural Edges, Platters and Plaques, Variations in Shapes.

I had expected something more of an in-depth study of shape, and how it relates to design in woodturning. What I got is a portfolio of images of one mans's personal choices, and very little of universal interest. There is very little discussion of shape beyond the statement that "Successful woodturning ultimately stands or falls on the shapes used..." It tells us nothing about what makes some shapes better and others worse, or what a good shape is, or how to achieve one, and it tells us virtually nothing about the symbolism, or emotional impacts of shapes, their history, or ideas that might be associated with them.

In short, Woodturning_A sourcebook of shapes, is little more than a gallery of images that illustrate Mr. Hunnex's personal production of a range of simple bowl shapes. Many of his bowls are nice enough, but most of them are conservative and traditional, and some, in MHO, could use some work. There is hardly a piece illustrated that could be considered groundbreaking, exceptional, or even very interesting.

Hunnex's book may provide inspiration in one or a few cases, to try shapes one may not have considered turning before, but basically, there are many other books currently available, showing collections of much better, more artistic turnings, which should provide much greater inspiration, and much more enjoyable viewing than this one.