This bowl was made from a piece of green red oak. The log was about 14" in diameter and 16" long. It was first split in half with wedges and a maul, and debarked, then...

Oak log segment with shape of the bottom of the bowl roughed out.

Next day, the bowl bottom is more defined and legs/support are roughed out.

Bowl pretty much shaped. So far I've used just two fairly large gouges and three Surformtm tools. So far I have  converted about half of this piece of oak into what you see above and a bushel of chips.

I decided to leave chisel-marks on the base to better define it. At this point there is about a week of finishing left - then it will be ready for final inspection and signing ... then  ready for sale.

From start to 'finish' this bowl took about three weeks of intermittent work. The pace is sometimes set by life... but often, especially in the case of a very fresh, green piece of wood like this was, by allowing appropriate time for the bowl to dry. Too rapid drying would surely crack the piece; too slow and a black mold would form on the surface. Timing is a bit touchy.

Steve