Boatshed

Early Morning: Flinders Ranges
Mark Pearse

 

Delicate brush work from Mark….looks like he grabbed a scrap of wrapping paper, and got to work.

It reminds me of the beautiful ink paintings of Sesshu Toyo: a Japanese master from the 15th century.

I have just glued the number two Bass rib edgewise to the Centre-rib, and glued both to the neck block.

No going back.

In fact, the adhesive can be reversed, if need be….but I am not inclined to retrace my steps.

From now on, I will try to adopt the Wabi Sabi approach:

honouring  imperfections….

Stained-glass works by Anna Pearse (31st July 1970 – 25th December 1995).

Anna Pearse (a gifted maker of leadlight) designed this beautiful window many years ago. It was subsequently completed by her studio colleagues.

A tall window depicting Sun/Moon, Sky, Hills, Leaves and Ocean: that was the brief.

Alex and Ruth Pearse have very kindly donated the window to our Lady Bay Boatshed, where it will be installed – and cherished – for as long as the structure endures (my expectation is about 500 years – after which the posts and walls can be replaced, as in the Japanese temple tradition).

Shaping number six rib on the Bass side. You can see the Bending Iron to the right of the mould.

I have already snapped one rib – a result of inexperience, or impatience, or both….

 

….ideal for beginning cuts in the middle of a board; cutting an arc – and reaching into difficult corners.

One side rips down the grain; the other cuts across.

I think it will prove to be useful for our boat-building projects – and is , besides, a beautiful saw to hold and admire….

Well, there’s no denying it: I am a novice, and these things happen. My first attempt at a centre-rib proved to be unsatisfactory.

I have made a second version, and must now  adjust all the other ribs, so that they form a watertight lute shell. (Watertight is probably not the correct term, but that’s the way I think of the  process).

Slowly and unsurely the bits and pieces come together. I am still confident a musical instrument of some sort will emerge – and as I follow the Curve, I find myself having to learn (if not master) new skills, and old skills….

 

Two more Mark Pearse paintings.

The Road is one of many in the Catalogue.

The  sheds are between Aldinga and Sellicks Hill (Mark is looking more or less north-east, along the line of Willunga Hills).

 

See  also: The Road goes ever on….April 2019.

A  kind and longtime friend recently sent me a bank cheque, along with a written instruction to buy something you need – or else, something you may not necessarily need, but definitely want.

Those who have been following this Boatshed commentary won’t be surprised  to learn that I felt more inclined to the second half of the instruction – and as it happens, I had for some weeks been admiring a not really essential block plane at the online shop of  Fine Tools Australia.

https://www.finetools.com.au/collections/all

Having persuaded my Credit Union to accept such an unfamiliar, and possibly criminal currency, I secured the diminutive Low-angle Block Plane, made by Qiangsheng Tools Co. China – and as you will see in the first photo (with the dollar coin), it is an adorable and handsome and irresistible woodworking tool.

I can’t understand how I have managed without it for so long.

Already it has proved useful for a range of unnecessary jobs, and I am certain there will be more.   It can get into difficult corners; it can plane smoothly across the end-grain; it is a joy to hold and cherish.

And it has settled in comfortably with the little family of Boatshed Block Planes, which grow in number if not size….

 

….but still very beautiful.