BOB GILMOUR

I was born in Brisbane (Queensland, Australia) in 1961 and grew up either on or near the beach much of the time. Other than surfing and exploring, my main interest as a kid was painting and drawing ... and, making things. My career path led me into science as a fisheries biologist and then into private enterprise as a charter big game fishing captain on the Great Barrier Reef.

As the 1900's drew to a close, the creativeness of my childhood began to beckon once again. I began to make a range of utensils and homewares and found a willing market both domestically and overseas. The utensils were born directly from my own forays in the kitchen and represent a fusion of absolute function with simple organic form.

I realised I like making curvaceous shapes and so began exploring other forms ... mostly bowls. At this stage my primary medium was ... and still is ... wood. My working method is free-form. I bought a couple lathes but find turning too restrictive and machine-like. My shaping is done with an angle grinder and tungsten cutting wheel, followed up with abrasives.

My signature forms are thin-walled open bowl forms with small bases and wide overhangs ... resembling some sort of swooping flying form when viewed from the side. I use mostly tropical hardwoods although regard the beauty of the medium as secondary to the beauty of the form ... if the wood is really nice, then it's a bonus.

I have sold my work direct from my venue at the Port Douglas Artisan's Market since 2001. This has provided an invaluable source of feedback ... and loyal regular customers from all over the world. My work has been included in two group exhibitions at the Liverpool Street Gallery in Sydney. Going forward, my interests are extending to abstract freeform sculpture and furniture.

I currently live and work in Mount Molloy in the hinterland behind Port Douglas, Far North Queensland, Australia.

ROBERT GILMOUR ARTFORMS :: Curvaceous artforms and art functional works.

FOREST TREASURES :: Gourmet Utensils and Fine Homewares for the Privileged Few.

FOREST TREASURES - BLOG :: News and updates from Forest Treasures.

BOB GILMOUR INFO :: This website - information about Australian sculpture artist and designer Robert (Bob) Gilmour.

Wood Works

In the heartwood
secret sap flows
rising from soil sucked
through xylem rows
ebbing back in phloem
sweetened where green glows
through pores breathing
curved lips, open, close
nourishing down the distance
as armoured bark grows
to hide from prying eyes
what the heartwood knows

On the bench
a curved line flows
rising unmarked
through grain rows
ebbing back in knife strokes
softened where sheen glows
through sanded planes
dropping to the lip's close
curled back down to base
as silent the mind grows
while the soul whispers
what the heart would know

© Helen Ramoutsaki 2003

A 'pome' by Helen Ramoutsaki.

"The money is given gratefully
but the real debt can only
be repaid in like energy

I hope this goes at least
part of the way ...

Helen"

In 2002 my friend, poet Helen Ramoutsaki,
asked ... uhm, persuaded ... me to create
a special 'spoon' for her sister in the UK who
was turning 40 in 2003. The result was styled
as a Celtic love spoon.

It's lucky Helen gave me a long timeframe
to complete the project ... because it
took me a long time ... in fact, I think
the parcel still had to be sent by courier
just days before Jules' birthday.

Although I had been making some carved
pendant jewellery in wood and bone for a
couple years, I hadn't attempted anything as
complicated as this ... so, there were a few
challenges to overcome.

Anyway, all concerned were happy with the
end result and Helen penned "Wood Works"
... as the opening quote suggests.