Definitely a master craftsman at work. Lots of added finesse in the detail and I also love the way they are a threesome.You have made me wonder why produce a bowl without it's family member's.
Personally I find green Beech a joy to carve.
The whiter the wood the easier it is to carve and funnily enough, the easier it it to produce a dark finish just by letting it dry before applying a finish.
I find that drilling out a wood like this is not quicker than carving with sharp tools. If you carve it from the start you follow through with smooth movements. If you drill first, you have to repeatedly over come the resistance of stop cuts. The exception would be very large items.
Cheers Hedgehog, very nice work. The photos are great too!