Ancient Art Of Yakisugi
Woodturner, Paul Eastwood has become known for the beautiful, blackened vessels he creates using a lathe and a centuries-old Japanese method of burning wood
Second-generation woodturner Paul Eastwood makes stunning vessels that are created using an ancient Japanese technique.
His work uses a centuries-old wood preservation method called Yakisugi that involves burning wood at high temperature to creative a distinctive finish in terms of their unique shape and tactile nature.
Ribble Valley born Paul followed in the footsteps of his father when he began woodturning several years ago. He now has a workshop at his home in Waddington and has recently begun to sell his work through Mytham Atelier on Moor Lane in Clitheroe.
“Woodturning is very creative – it’s a real passion for me and it has been wonderful to learn the skill from my dad,” says Paul, who sources his wood locally.
While usually working in oak and Swedish hornbeam, his latest collection of vessels is made of ash from a tree that was brought down in a storm on an estate in Waddington and like all the wood he uses, it is unseasoned or ‘green’: “The ash was kindly gifted to me from a local landowner. All the wood I use tends to have fallen naturally or has been felled for safety reasons.
“A lot of woodturners like to turn dry wood, but I like mine to warp when it dries out so all the vessels I make are totally unique in shape. I don’t want the bowls to be perfect.”
Starting out as simple logs that Paul has chopped with a chain saw, the vessels range in size from eight inches in diameter to 16 inches: “When the wood goes on to the lathe, I don’t know how it is going to turn out as every piece is different.
“It’s very much about what the wood requires me to do. When I start turning, it’s only then that I start to see different features – a knot or a crack. It’s then that I have to decide whether I want to keep it as a beautiful feature.”
Once turned, the wood is left to dry out for anything up to a couple of months: “The whole process of working with green wood is quite precarious. You only find out what’s in there when you start turning it – I would say there is probably a 60 per cent success rate and once you start drying it, the shape alters as it warps. It’s just a matter of letting the wood do its own thing.”
Once the vessels are dried out Paul employs the technique of Yakisugi, which the Japanese have used for centuries to clad buildings. The burning of the wood seals it making it weather and fire resistant and provides an interesting texture.
Using the same technique, Paul burns his turned wood vessels at high temperature, blackening them: “The heat burns away the softer part of the charred wood grain,” explains Paul, who uses a burnishing technique to brush away the soft part leaving the harder ridges of the grain.
The resulting blackened vessel has a distinct ridged pattern making it a totally unique work of art: “I researched Yakisugi extensively and put my own spin on it and I have been really happy with the results,” says Paul, who has taken on various commissions.
“I was thrilled when Jayne at Mytham Atelier was so enthusiastic about my work. She really understands that these are not just utility items, they are pieces of art. As a local craftsman, I think it’s fantastic that the vessels I make are featured at Mytham. Jayne’s support of local artists is growing and it has really inspired me to make more.
“Each one is totally unique and reflects the organic way that I work and how I let each vessel evolve.”
Paul Eastwood
07971 490364
Items from Paul’s other collections can be found on his website: eastwoodturning.co.uk
