If you will be submitting a carving and a turning, please use two separate forms.
Competition Categories
There are eight categories and forty five sub categories in the woodcarving competition.
Select the link below to determine the category to enter your entry.
Woodturning Evaluation Criteria
LEVEL I Novice Woodturner
Finish Elements
- Torn surface (wood fiber broken rather than sliced cleanly).
- “Bruised” surface (dark area in finish indicating damage beneath the surface of the piece).
- Sanding marks (visible scratches or lines).
- Tool marks (ripples, break in line continuity, gouge, spirals, or chatter marks).
Form/line Elements
- Inside lines are inconsistent (inside and outside shapes are inconsistent).
- Flat or high spots (lines that do not flow smoothly or transition smoothly).
Thickness
- Too thick (a judgment call; form does not relate to function or where object is not aesthetically pleasing).
- Too light (piece is not usable or too fragile to be practical).
- Balance (object is too top heavy or bottom heavy to be pleasing).
Style Elements
- Consistency (style elements do not fit together).
- Size (style elements not sized correctly to be aesthetically pleasing or practical for use).
LEVEL II Intermediate Woodturner
Finish Elements
- Finish is not consistent (may vary in thickness, gloss, color).
- Finish gloss/smoothness not appropriate for piece (finish impractical or not consistent with style).
- Texture (if used) is not appropriate or texture detracts.
- Minor flaws in surface (small places where surface flaw detracts from overall quality).
Form/Line Elements
- Inconsistent style elements (features clash with the artistic style or intent).
- Shape does not achieve potential for form. A piece made in a certain style may vary greatly in the shape of its elements; certain shapes can be deemed more effective.
- Minor areas where lines do not flow (minor curve issues characterized by subtle bulging or straightening of the line).
- Form is not consistent quality when viewed from all angles.
- Size and execution of some elements may not add to the work’s quality.
Style Elements
- Overall design below potential.
- Suggest changes in materials used for construction, selection/execution of design elements, color/finish.
LEVEL III Advanced Woodturner
A critique using Level III checklist items is generally reserved for well-executed pieces that generally receive no criticism on Level I and Level II checklist items. A critique at this level is more focused on helping the craftsman take a great piece of work and make it better or use it as a
springboard for new directions.
Finish Elements
- A different surface treatment would likely add appeal. A different surface would add to or enhance the piece; be prepared to describe and tell why a change would help.
- Color/stain would help. Color warrants change; describe the potential effects of a color change.
Form/Line Elements
- A change in size would improve the impact of the work. Scale impacts how we view a work; describe how scaling up or down would help.
- Some changes/additions/deletions of elements would increase the impact of the work. Sometimes simplicity (and conversely, complexity) improve a piece. Identify specific possibilities and describe how they might help.
Possibilities
- Future potential. Provide the artist with some ideas for changing the work or using it as a basis for new work; this is important to advanced turners who may need new ideas to keep growing and developing as woodturners.