Breezy Hill Turning

Turned Wood Art by Michael Foster

Fibonacci

Fibonacci Maple II
Sugar maple leaves carved in Fibonacci Spirals
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Fibonacci Maple II
There are 5 spirals of leaves in one direction and 3 in the other

Fibonacci Maple II
Sugar Maple 6”H x 9”D Kyrlon Matte finish

Leonardo’s Tribute
A tribute to Leonardo Pisano Bigolio, otherwise known as Fibonacci
Available

Leonardo’s Tribute
This piece has 13 spirals in one direction and 21 in the other.

Leonardo’s Tribute
Ash, bleach, Krylon
9"W x 6.5"H

Fibonacci Vase
A more symmetrical vase with 21 spirals in each direction
Available

Fibonacci Vase
A bit of artistic license since usually the number of spirals are not the same in nature

Fibonacci Vase
Ash, 6.75” W x 7.75” H, Inks, liming wax, Krylon

Fibonacci Maple
A vessel carved with 5 spirals of maple leaves in one direction and 3 in the other
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Fibonacci Maple
My wife claimed this piece for herself

Fibonacci Maple
Bleached sugar maple, Krylon, 6”H x 9”D

Fibonacci birch
A piece turned from birch and carved with birch leaves arranged in 2 opposing spirals in a fibonacci pattern.
Available

Fibonacci birch
Birch burl, Waterlox 6.5” H x 9”D

Perforated
Turned wooden vessel carved with a Fibonacci arrangement of holes. 5 spirals in one direction and 8 in the other.
Available

Perforated
Box Elder burl, Inks, Waterlox, 7.75"H x 6"D

Fibonacci Torus
A one sided (non-orientable) 8,5 torus knot. The base is carved with opposing spirals, 3 in one direction, 5 in the other.
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Fibonacci Torus
Torus- Curly maple, stain, Bush oil, 7” x 1.75” Stand- Maple, Leather dye, wax, 10.5” tall with stand

Conic Inversion
A minimal surface with 2 intersecting Fibonacci spirals.
Available

Conic Inversion
Ash, 7” W x 5” H, Acrylics, bleach, Krylon
Stand- Compwood, 12” deep x 11” H, India ink, Krylon

Fibonacci Wormhole
Hyperbolic curved vessel with 8 spirals on the outside.
Available

Fibonacci Wormhole
Figured Birch, 8” square x 4”H, Oil

Fibonacci Wormhole
The inside has 34 spirals in one direction and 55 in the other.

If You Dare
Inspired by Saglione cacti which exhibit Fibonacci spirals. 13 spirals in one direction, 21 in the other.
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If You Dare
Maple, Acrylics, Bleached birch for the spines, 7”H x 5”W

A catenoid minimal surface (one of the simplest) pierced with 2 opposing spirals, 21 in one direction and 34 in the other. These are numbers that are part of the Fibonacci series.
Available

Parastichy
Box elder, acrylics, Fixatiff, 7” D x 8.5” H

Parastichy II
A vessel turned from Birch Burl with smooth lumps arranged in Fibonacci spirals with 13 in one direction and 8 in the other.
Available

Parastichy II
Birch Burl, Bush Oil
7” D x 6" H

Phylotaxis
A vessel with 8 spirals carved in each direction
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Phylotaxis
Mulberry, 8” W x 5” H

Fibonacci Sunburst
Loosely based on the Fibonacci series of numbers.
Available

Fibonacci Sunburst
Chakte Viga, Pao Amarillo, Bloodwood, Ebony and Curly Maple, 17h x 18"d 

Lobelia
Inspired by a photo of a giant Lobelia plant. 13 spirals in one direction and 21 in the other.
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Lobelia
Walnut, 6.75”H x 4.5”W, Waterlox finish

Pinecone Box
All pinecones exhibit Fibonacci symmetry. This box is based on one with13 spirals in one direction and 8 in the other.
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Pinecone Box
Macassar ebony, 7”H x 3.5”D, Waterlox finish

The Fibonacci Sequence

I stumbled onto the fact that the Fibonacci sequence of numbers occurs frequently in nature when I embarked on making Lobelia. I had been intrigued by the spiraling symmetry of a photo of giant Lobelia I saw on the National Geographic and decided website. The photo was a shot of a giant lobelia taken straight down on it. I loved the symmetry and the spirals in the plant. After looking at it for quite a while, I decided that I had to do a piece based on the plant. Closer inspection revealed to me that it had 13 spirals of leaves in one direction and 21 in the other. I was puzzled about these numbers for a while until my wife suggested they be an example of the Fibonacci series. I knew instantly that she was right, and began my exploration of how often this series of numbers occurs in nature. Pinecones, pineapples, sunflowers, many flowers and seashells are all examples of the expression of this series of numbers occurring in nature.

The Fibonacci series is a series of numbers that starts with one, and the next number in the series is the sum of the previous two as in 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34.... The higher up in the sequence, the closer two consecutive numbers of the sequence divided by each other will approach the golden ratio (approximately 1 : 1.618). The series was named for a well known Italian mathematician that described it about 1200 AD, although it was known to Indian mathematicians as early as the 6th century.

I find it fascinating that the series shows up so frequently and beautifully in nature. I love the symmetry that results from the combination of 2 or 3 spirals of adjacent numbers of the sequence, usually in a spiral pattern. That it shows up in such diverse variety of plants makes it even more intriguing.