This Year you will notice a change in the entry for, especially for the woodturners.  This year there will be only one entry form for both woodcarvers and woodturners.  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.

There are eleven categories and four sub categories in the woodturning competition.

**Please note that the categories and skill levels for the woodturning have been revised for the 2023 SW Florida Wood Art Expo.

Select the link below to determine the category to enter your entry.

The Floaters are back again!

There are 2 categories this year.  Click the button below for categories and parameters.

GUIDELINES FOR JUDGING ENTRIES

It is our intent to provide the best method of judging entries fairly, consistently, and accurately. We have secured judges who are experienced and recognized in competitions for their honesty, accuracy, and fairness.
 

Woodcarving Judges Criteria
 

1. Originality and Creativity: Artistry and visual impact of the overall carving.
2. Design: Proper proportions, perspective, balance and form.
3. Skill and Execution: Carving techniques, execution of detail, texturing, quality of joints, cleanliness of finish.
4. Surface Finish: Appropriateness and quality of painting and finishing.
5. Final Presentation: The overall impression of the carving. Does the carving convey humor, surprise, balance, and form? Does the carving create a sense of emotion in its presentation?

Judges will work together to evaluate each entry on its own merit. The head judge will be monitoring the judging process intermittently to be available for any questions/clarifications the judges may have. All ratings and designations of winners will be completed on Thursday afternoon January 5^th. Judges are asked to be available between the hours of 11 a.m. and noon on Friday, January 6^th to meet with anyone inquiring about the process and/or suggestions for improving their work.

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.