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This project has been extracted from my book, Woodturning: Form and Formula, which explores the Golden Ratio and Rule of Thirds in much greater depth with sketching techniques, professional examples, and seven projects (including this one) designed to help you develop your eye for proportion. After purchase, you will be presented with a download link for the file.
The Bulbous is deceptively simple with its single, flowing curve from foot to finial. No lid to fit, no joints to fuss over. Just you, your tools, and a shape that will tell you immediately whether you've got it right.
That's the challenge, of course. A curve that bulges too much becomes heavy and sluggish. One that holds back looks timid, like it's apologising for being there. The sweet spot - where the form feels generous but controlled - takes patience and a steady hand.
The proportions do the heavy lifting here. The widest point of the body sits within the Golden Ratio, and instead of a simple arc, the curve follows a section of the Fibonacci Spiral. The full height, including the foot and finial, is calculated along the same proportions, giving the piece a natural harmony that your eye recognises even if your brain doesn't quite know why.
Hollowing through a small opening teaches restraint. You can't see what you're doing in there - you have to feel it. And that finial at the top? It's where your spindle skills get a proper workout. Delicate, elegant, and all too easy to snap off if you rush.