Since I started turning as a "segmenter", I always had a plan on the project. The shape,wood used,pattern and such. When I started solid wood turnings, I never seem to have a "plan" on what its going to be. I just start roughin it out and  say " oohh  that might look cool" and go off that idea. After I stop the lathe and inspect the piece, I might hafta take out inclusions or imperfections and stuff which end up changing the original "plan".  Ive turned 8" pieces of wood down to 5" because of "change in plans"
   Being very green to turning , I was curious to know how you seasoned turners go about starting a project. If you plan , draw out, search thru the pile for pieces that will fit yur plan, or if ya just wing-it  like me. Or do you have a certain style or shape that you base your piece around  er what? Or is the shape influenced by the piece of wood?Just curious.
 
  I kinda like to just throw a chunk on ....spin it....and see what the siloette (sp) leaves and go from there.

Sounds pretty much like what I do too. I usually have a bowl, or vase or something in mind but no detailed plan of exactly what it will be.

SkyJ, I'm certainly not a seasoned turner; only been at it seriously for a couple of years or so, but I do have ideas regarding your questions.  Some turning projects do require drawings, measurements, etc. because the end product must fit certain specifications.  Other projects are more of a creative nature, and for those, at least in my case, I do have a mental picture of what I want to accomplish.  Said picture is, doubtless, based in any number of sources previously viewed:  images seen in on this very Forum, catalogs, books, etc.  Which isn't to say that, when the actual turning takes place, for one reason or another I might not change some detail or aspect of the original "picture."  I guess what I am saying is that I always have a "goal," and that goal begins in the form of a picture, in my head.  In sum, my fascination with woodturning is related mostly to its creative aspect, something which takes place mostly "in the act."
Finally, George Nakashima (sp?), that famous furniture maker said (wrote) something to the effect that  the wood (piece of wood) decides the project, and not the reverse.  I find that to be increasingly true in my turning as well. 

Enjoy!

Jim

I may plan on doing a bowl or a goblet, but have no idea what the profile is going to be.  I will pick my wood by what I might have in mind.

JimQ

Spin it and see what emerges.  Too often the wood will change what you have in mind.  That is not to say that having an idea of what you want before you start is wrong.  Its just as many have already said, sometimes the wood, or bad technique, will cause a sudden change in plans.  Be ready to go with the flow in that case.  At the same time, if you have a commission for a 14" bowl and you get a catch that causes the piece to be only 12", well then you best get another piece of wood spinnin'.   8)

Somebody, somewhere, not sure if on this forum, said that a fair measure of a wood turner is how successfully he or she can solve a problem, such as a serious catch, thereby saving the piece, even though its shape might end up being altered.  Seems like there is a great deal of satisfaction in that alone, nevermind ending up (anyway) with a nice looking "creature."