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i usually don't' post projects that I'm not close to 100% happy with but I've been vacillating on these two boards.

The first board is maple and walnut. I had a small amount of some In Lace so I decided to try it in the "defect" in the maple. On it's own with no walnut trim it looks okay. I knew I had to add some contrast to the board - but I'm not sure if I did the right thing. The maple board was 14" to start with - I thought about cutting it down to about 6". I finally decided to add the walnut trim and see how it looks to decide if I should cut the length of it down. The final board is 6.5" x 14". Now I'm thinking I really should have made the board shorter - but once I have a finish on a board I hesitate to change it. I thought about also adding more edge boards to make it wider but opted not to. Then there is the trim and how I decided it's width - I admit that it was haphazard at best. Long and short I'm torn if it's a good enough board to take to a show. I am one who won't take a board to a show if i don't at least like it - I know that's foolish - certainly someone will like it enough to buy it - but still I hesitate to take it. What is your opinion?

The second board I've not liked from the start - it actually looked better before I added the finish. It's size is 8.5×11. I've shown it to several friends and as friends do, I could not get a firm opinion on what they thought. Drives me crazy but sometimes friends are the worst ones to get an honest opinion from. The board is again, maple and walnut. The outside 5 pieces on either side of the middle strip are equally sized and I like that part of the board. The middle strip is a left over from an end grain board. I had several pieces to chose from and I thought the uneven sizes of the alternating board I picked was pleasing. Now I'm thinking the middle board blows the symmetry/balance of the side boards. I'm not a real hard core, everything has to be balanced gal - but I think I went too far past symmetry on this one. What is your opinion?

I really would appreciate some criticism on these - I'm trying to branch my "style" a little past sedate and these two may be too far past sedate.

Thanks
Betsy

Gallery

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Nice work. You are you worst critic! You did fine finishing them like that. I think the one on the left could have been enhanced if the light and dark colors could have been continuously gotten smaller from one end- like 2 big ones then 2 a little smaller etc to give it kind of a direction. I do like the symmetry in it with the full length pieces.
Just my view on it…..............Jim
 

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You seem like a creative person, Betsy.

My advice is to make end grain cutting boards. You will expand your design capabilities exponentially, in addition to having a board which will be better suited to the knife's edge.
 

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I do not like them….I like symmetry ....but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder…to the constructive criticism … I think that in the second one the cross pieces in the centre let it down… as to the first the asymmetrical placing of the walnut detracts from the whole effect of the board….IMHO
 

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My favorite is the first one. I'm like degoose in that My eye tends to enjoy symmetry.
 

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I don't like them because I didn't make them and I would be proud to call them mine.
I like deviation from the norm and these qualify!
Really nice work.
 

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I actually was most impressed with the second one (and that's before I read your post). I thought it was a good job of using asymmetry - especially when surrounded by symmetric sides. Showed a lot of thought…
 

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Betsy, first off, nice work and good looking boards. I'm with Steve. I find intentional asymmetry can be a very striking design choice. The second board to me is also the one that draws my eye more strongly.
 

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Thanks for the comments. I've been thinking a lot about symmetry and how it affects everything else. Looks like it really does come down to preference on symmetry or asymmetry. I am kind of leaning toward symmetry for straight line boards and asymmetry for boards like the drunken alice boards. Just looking around my house and how I have things arranged will scream symmetry to anyone who really looks at my "decor."

I'm pretty sure these designs will not be going to my next show. They did take me out of that proverbial comfort zone for a change and there's nothing wrong with that, I'll probably experiment a bit more to see if I can find a design that's symmetrical but not quite "normal" that will suit me better.

The first board with the asymmetrical walnut trim is probably my least favorite of the two. If the original scrap piece was wider to start with - probably could have gone without the walnut all together. The more I look at it the more the walnut pulls my eye from the stunning grain of the maple

Face grain boards are flying off my table this year so I'm working to come up with some new designs. Thinking outside the box is good. There's a lot to be said to making things people will buy but that are not in my comfort area.

Thanks for your thoughts - I appreciate the constructive criticism. You've all given me some food for thought. I'll try to remember to update this with my final decision on taking them or not to the next show.
 

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Not a fan of the turquoise with yellowed maple

The second one make me want to punch it where the widest piece of walnut is in the middle row.

This probably doesn't help
 

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I'll be off the subject for a second - I just finished a short free ;)
course in photography and learned quite a bit about composition
which made my photographs so much better. Your thread comes
with the right timing as now I feel I am a bit more aware of
shapes/colors/composition and need to dig a bit into art theory
to make me a better woodworker (artist ;)) as I'm not sure exactly
what to answer you, but I'll give it a bash without knowing the theory ;)

I have a feeling symmetry, progression of size of pieces and balance of color has something
to do with it if you use geometrical shapes. I guess free-form would be different:
First board - I would have either :
-put both pieces of dark wood on the outside (irrespective of width) or
-sliced the thick dark wood in half and added one piece on the opposite edge
(the board would be "balanced" with the additional dark piece as contrast

Second board:
I think the improvement in my eyes could be made with
the center squares (I see big rectangles below which breaks the harmony) eg.
- all squares which are of one color to be the same size
- all squares of one color to be in some progression of size or alternation of size
 

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hi betsy the tu rquoise stuff will not hold up to knife cuts..if it is a wall hanger, well then it looks pretty good. The 2nd board has construction issues. The wood going horizontally will not move in the same direction a the wood with grain going vertically. This will crack eventually. hope this helps with future designs
 

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Here's the simple truth…...you made them and you stepped out of your comfort zone in doing so. Take them to a show. Customers have many different tastes and I am sure that each of these boards will be just what one particular customer will be hunting for when they see it. Oftentimes we allow the woodworker in us to suppress the artist. As an artist, which you are, in my opinion, that ain't good. Like stated above, we are our own worst critics.
 

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Betsy, I like them both. I like the first one better as it isn't as "busy". I also love turquoise in a knot. It really calls attention to the vagaries of wood in general. I use inlace all the time in knots and in the worm holes in ambrosia maple (enlarge them slightly) and everyone gravitates to those boards (and they often sell first).

I am not a fan of symmetry. I like the dissonance of asymmetrical boards. I find them more interesting and I think I look at them longer as I try to figure out the non-pattern. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Ellen
 

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First let me say I enjoy reading what you have written above. I have read it a couple of times. I can tell you are really looking for comments that might help you. Let me also mention that we are 'observing' IMAGES of the products, NOT the products themselves resting in front of us. I am sure by now we all realize how different an image can look compared to the actual piece being held in our hands.

If I had to choose one of the two, I would choose the first (with the inlay). I think it is because it is 'different' in an interesting way. Every once in a while I say 'Now THAT is different!' and that experience can be quite powerful. I tend to MIGRATE toward symmetry and certain contrast in texture as well as in color. But with certain combinations I deviate from that tendency. The first board caught my eye immediately. I like it. The second board looks a little too 'busy' for my taste.

I would suggest that you take both boards to the show and ask for comments from 'first hand viewers' giving you 'first hand impressions'. That would be quite interesting. The only thing that could go wrong is if both boards sell immediately yielding no further comments!
 

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Betsy,
Personal preference here, but I really do like the second one. The symmetry across the long edges is pleasing to the eye, and I like the staggered affect of the assymetrical pieces in the center. Being a math nerd, the center reminds me of number distributions, like a Fibonacci sequence or the distribution of primes.
 

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Putting yourself out there, huh? OK, I'm in.

You know you do good work. That's not what you're asking … so here goes.

First board - I would not have made this board. Maple with a knock out goes in the recycle bin. The bark inclusion is still an issue for a surface with food contact, so I would not make this board for that reason. Lazy Susan, perhaps? Just something that's not for food contact and you're OK. The walnut is a contrast, but in no way unifies the whole. Three disparate elements (turquoise, maple, walnut), put them together … they don't transcend the parts. IMHO.

Second board - I'm really OK with this one, though I don't love it. Would I sell it? You bet. I don't love the "white maple" and the "brown maple" ... I wish there was more contrast. Perhaps more species of woods. It looks like two disparate colors of the same species got used together for no good reason. Have I made & sold similar pieces? You bet. I would price this ugly duckling (in my eyes) at a lower price than better looking pieces. It will sell.

I applaud your efforts to push the envelope. You can't "just" make what you love and please the larger audience. On the other hand, I TOTALLY agree making what you like is essential. If you don't like it, then what are you doing???

Humbly submitted!
 

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I think they're both brilliant! I'm an IT guy by day, so, overly analytical, logical, left-brained, etc. In other words, naturally drawn to symmetry. But I do love asymmetry when the proportions are right. I think you nailed it on both accounts! I think the design of both boards is very appealing.

I say bring 'em both to your next show. What do you have to lose? You already think they suck, so if they don't sell, you prove yourself right. But, I have a more than a sneaking suspicion that you'll be pleasantly surprised!

As to the comments about wood movement - I don't think any of the individual pieces are wide enough that seasonal movement will cause splitting. All cutting boards wear out eventually. I expect these will wear out due to daily use long before they split of their own accord.
 

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Not bad looking boards but it looks like you just made them to do something, no real purpose in mind except to experiment.
The first one I never would have made but could be turned into a candle holder. God knows I've made candle holders out of projects I ended up hating.
The second board is nice, has a Art Deco feel to me, maybe just me. I would think it would sell if that's your intention.

Bill
 

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Ok, my 2 Centavos:

The first board:

I agree with posters above that the turquoise shouldn't be in a cutting board. It's a nice accent, but form follows function, and turquoise doesn't function as a cutting board. Also, I wouldn't have put the maple strip on the right hand side. I would have used another walnut strip, the same width as the left hand piece. The maple piece on the right looks like it's kinda lost out there. Of course, this suggestion would make the board symmetrical, and you weren't going for that.

But symmetry doesn't have to be just various colors of wood. It can also be in the shape. Maybe instead of parallel sides, make them tapered, with a cut-out handle at the narrower end.

The second board:

As Michelle said above, wood movement could break the center section of the board. Then again, if cutting boards are kinda disposable, maybe this isn't an issue. (The woodworker in me can't believe I just typed that….....!)

If it were me, I'd cut out the center (ladderback) section of this board, and glue in a piece of walnut. The ladderback section could then be used in another cutting board, the new one not having a cross-grain design.

Now, for the third, unsolicited Centavo:

These boards, despite the issues, are still beautiful! I hope they don't end up in the yard debris container, but go to a good home. I look forward to seeing what you do with them!

It takes courage to put ourselves out there like this, because there's a little bit of ourselves in everything we make, and I commend you for that! As Big Al (Boxguy) would say, Keep boxing and keep posting!
 
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