Laurent Niclot
Originally from Southern France, now living in Colorado, Laurent has always loved wood. While working on a degree in woodworking and furniture design, he discovered woodturning and knew it was his passion. At age 20, he participated in the six-month long woodturning class at the Escoulen School in Aiguines, France with Jean-François Escoulen and Yann Marot. After the class, Laurent was hired and worked as the studio coordinator for 3 years. Today, he continues to make work and teach woodturning. His interests include traditional woodturning, texturing, coloring, multi-axis turning, carving and hollowing. He has taught his techniques around the world, including Belgium, France, Canada, and the US. Laurent considers his work experimental, and his aim is to make pieces that are sculptural, decorative, and designed with a strong message or a story to tell.
Demonstration Topics
The Teapot :
Turning of a miniature teapot (approximately an inch) using the bedan and demonstration on how to use it with the bevel up for spindle turning, hollowing of the teapot with miniature hollowing tools. Then turning of the lid and the spout (magnifiers not included) and coloring using Indian ink and gilding wax to create the Damascus steel effect. Finally, a demonstration on how the make the handle using a wire and a cotton string on the lathe. LEVEL: something for everybody
Ploc! Multi-axis Drop :
Turning and turning off-center of a drop using a spindle gouge and a skew. Then carving of the top of the drop using gouges and rasps to make it thinner and have two different curves on the back and the front giving it an illusion of movement. And finally, texturing of the drop using a wood burner to create a Steampunk design, a combination of gears and metal plates, and coloring using Indian ink and gilding wax. LEVEL: something for everybody
The spheres :
Roughing out and turning of a perfect sphere between centers and remounting for the finishing using a jam chuck made out of green wood. Hollowing the sphere using small hollowing tools in a homemade chuck for a precise and safe method of hollowing. The sphere is a very pure shape but is also one of the most complicated. It is a great canvas for carving and texturing as well as a pleasant shape that will put forward the beauty of the wood grain.. LEVEL: something for everybody
Spiral Carving :
Using a previously turned form, drawing of a spiraling design, carving using power tools to make the design both concave and convex. Then, using a wood burner and rotary tools, texturing the flutes and beads created. Then coloring the form with ink and gilding wax (optional). The techniques used in the presentation can be applied on a multitude of forms. The texturing possibilities presented will open the participants minds and encourage them to try these techniques with whatever tools they have available, without having to procure specific burrs. LEVEL: Something for everybody
