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Here is a Volcano I just finished for a commission.

Just thought I would share.

Todd

Really nice. I was hoping to see the blue of the stem on the underside, contrasting the rest of the plateaux, but that is just preference. Lovely.

Hi Todd,

I don't exactly crave for that stem colour, but overall this looks like very nice work. Congrats !

Jens

Jos wrote:Hi Todd,

I don't exactly crave for that stem colour, but overall this looks like very nice work. Congrats !

Jens

I agree, but "the customer is always right" (at least most of the time. )

Actually, these highly colored acrylic stems seem to be wildly popular.

Gershom, blue on the bottom would have looked cool. I hadn't even thought of it...

Todd

taharris wrote:
"the customer is always right"

The customer is not always right, but the customer is always the customer

I love the Volcano shape. May be the next shape I try. I love the look of this pipe, and do agree about the stem as well but as you say, the one pays, chooses!

I think the conversation we had re: commission work applies here. When you're a famous pipemaker looking back on your past work, you' ll likely regret this one. The customer is not always right in a real world. That being said, there's at least one person who likes this stem and you' ve apparently found him.

The stem material aside, the pipe shaping isn't bad. The top of the shank at the bowl could be much more defined. The lines from the stem to shank are disjointed and lack grceful flow which makes the stem stick out even more like a sore thumb. The bowl shaping isn't bad but could use some more refining.

taharris wrote:
I agree, but "the customer is always right"

Not this guy. Yikes.

Other than that, I think you did a nice job. I think I would have brought the shank/bowl transition down a fair bit more.

Thanks guys. I appreciate the honest feed back.

Wayne, how would you have handled a request for this stem material? Would you have turned the commission down?
(I'm just curious.)

Todd

One should never turn down a commission based on one's thinking that the pipe will turn out ugly.

Make what the customer wants. You ain't gotta like it, but you'll get paid for it.

Rad

Nice shaping. I've been trying to make a volcano and had intended to have that flare but I keep losing my courage.

Stem-wise, I'd be inclined to make a second one the way you think it should be, photograph it for your gallery/portfolio and squirrel it away for when the client gets tired of the turquoise. Even better if you could build it into your pricing for the next commission. Artists need satisfaction too.

taharris wrote:Thanks guys. I appreciate the honest feed back.

Wayne, how would you have handled a request for this stem material? Would you have turned the commission down?
(I'm just curious.)

Todd

I would have made the pipe and stamped it 'Rad Davis USA 2012'.


I never accept a comission until i've heard their idea. If they pitch the idea and it doesn't fit my style or peak my interest i just be honest and tell them it just doesn't fit my style. If it's just a few things i don't like then i'll make some suggestions. Sometimes the collaboration works out and sometimes we part ways. Sometimes i'll suggest a particular pipemaker who I think lines up better with the project.

From viewing the first photo, I would assume this volcano would be spewing mercury.
"Run for the hills, Hilda, there's gonna be mercury in the air and we'll all become pipe makers if we don't get outta here!"

Todd your morta volcano in your gallery looks badass. the definition on that one is a bit different than the one above, I think the variation with the volcano style is cool.. would definately like to try one. is there some standard chart with an exact shape or is it all artistic preference?

I agrees with Rad.... i have made huge billiards with one inch wide mouthpieces.....yes one in wide with a 3 1/2 height bowl by 8 inch long!!!!!! the last thing i would ever want myself

I see a huge Hawaiian wave crashing into a volcanic island...eye catching stuff!

I appreciate the everyone's comments and just wanted to give an update.

The customer reconsidered the color and asked if I would change it, which I did.

I also took that opportunity to refine the shape a little better.



Todd

That's great, Todd, much better. Glad he came around; probably had his friends at the club ribbing him about the turquoise.