Works in process
Raven,,,
Carving and shaping the form of these Ravens is a process of many methods ,,, part carving with power tools and shaping with power tools then comes the hand carving rasping, detailing and sanding, refining the shape within each method ,,,
Blue Mussel Bowl
hand painting
Hand Carving
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Bowl carving is one of my fav ways of spending a day ,,, The Gutter adze is a very quick way of creating a divit in a chunck of wood,,, the heavy weight and a keen edge makes for a quick rough out of the bowl area,,, followed by a large bent gouge and mallet, within a very short time all the rough hollowing is done ,,, This block of maple was from a huge tree in our back yard,,, we had to have it taken down as the tree was mature and now becoming a hazard. It was huge and the branches where begining to break off. Threatening the green house and possibly people ,,, one of those stems wheigh several hundred pound and even a small branch dropping a 150 feet is deadly,,, Rather then just turning all that tree into fire blocks, I have milled a bunch of slabs from the main stems and bowls and spoons from the branches and some of the blocks
The second day is hand tools
All the work this day is hand tooling the shaping and reshaping so what you see here may not be the end result it was just the end of a long day,,,
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Before After
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The laughter mask
This mask is in process. Here is some of the work so far
You can click on the small images to enlarge them to see the detail better,,,
You can click on the small images to enlarge them to see the detail better,,,
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Concept, Process and evolution
The concept
From the concept to the mock up and selection of wood, everything is optional,,, till you make the first cut. The slab of Broad leaf maple, that I selected was wild with figure. The log this slab came from had been laying in a swamp submerged in mud, then eventualy wound up at IP, I chose this piece to make the small desk case, that was my final piece at the school.
The slab was 4ft. x 2ft. x 2 1/2in. There was a lot of clean up and prep work to surface the slab. So I could select the sections I would use for the top, ends, bottom, shelf, partition, and the veniers. And this is where the trouble started.
The slab was 4ft. x 2ft. x 2 1/2in. There was a lot of clean up and prep work to surface the slab. So I could select the sections I would use for the top, ends, bottom, shelf, partition, and the veniers. And this is where the trouble started.
Raw Material
The product
The process ,,,calls for innovations
Sometimes it is hard for some to actually see how these things are done as it is hidden in the studio they only get to see the final project or just a photo.,, Things like how the forming takes place is a mystery to some and it (I feel) is an important component to creation " IS" the processes.
The skill that need to develop, the tools over the years collected, the space required, materials gathered, All of this was stuff I didn't have much of an idea about when I first started and the many times following as I REstarted the process of being an "artist" I hope that in some way I may be able to show some of the process as I do it,,,not necessarily "THE WAY" it COULD or SHOULD be done. As I can really only hope to show how I do it
The skill that need to develop, the tools over the years collected, the space required, materials gathered, All of this was stuff I didn't have much of an idea about when I first started and the many times following as I REstarted the process of being an "artist" I hope that in some way I may be able to show some of the process as I do it,,,not necessarily "THE WAY" it COULD or SHOULD be done. As I can really only hope to show how I do it
The leg up
This is the shaping of the leg, with carving and planing, the bottom detail,,,The single leg profile hints of the tapered profile of the twin legs, the flat profile on the long ends of the oval, I think gives a good termination to the curve of the oval with a compliment to both the curve and flat
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side view
The idea here is the planes give the leg more volume needed to offset the weight of this end of the bench as apposed to the other end that has a lighter profile calling for the lighter twin legs and reflect the tapered profile of the twin legs of the other end of the bench,,, it is hard to see the profile of the fount of the twin legs at this point ,,, there is a flat plane down the face that gives a tapered profile, without actually tapering the leg on the long flat profile ,,, the taper is top to bottom on the curved sides,,, it is more of a visual effect. ... I like the look as it is a clean and sleek accent....
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Maple Slab Bench
This bench has been laying around the shop for some time. I even stored it at the church for a couple of years and forgot about it,,, My reasons are simple FIRST It is a speck piece and it has no home, 2. If I finish a piece and it gets banged up hanging around in a small studio space I can't sell it until I refinish it... and that makes me crazzzzzy. 3. Sometimes I have to figure out how I want to finish it and what the final touches are going to be. 4. Other times I have just not been happy with some part or all of the elements and until I can resolve those issues it sits and we wait......and wait..... The work I do will and intended to be around a long time, I would rather they where done to the best of my ability at the time they where made ,,, rather then be "just getter done" examples of that attitude. My work is personal at least to me and I hope to present my works as personal expressions of an attitude I strive for every day... furniture and elements of a home I believe do reflect the other inhabitants as a complete feeling of "home". Each element inter woven to provide an atmosphere conducive to a good life, well lived, lived well. All the elements being in harmony with each other to provide that. Purpose and deliberate consideration, investment, in an effort to provide a tranquil space we will habitat, a better part of the one life we are given.
This little scaper is a great tool
I use this tool to do most of the final shaping of the inside of my bowls. Here you can see the type of shavings I get. This is where I am taking the gouge tool tracks out and correcting the "wonks" or humps out of the surface. I find it is fast and efficient. The standard blade that comes with the tool has been modified with a file and honed to a razor edge. This bowl is Cherry it has been drying for 3 or 4 months carved from green wood and dried in a brown paper 3 layered bag.
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Maple Bowl in progress
This is an example of the shaving with the little scraper on figured grain. You can see the area where I have worked the scraping and the type of shavings produced. The size of the shavings show the amount of material I can remove very quickly and efficiently, removing the wonks and tool tracks. This part of the process quickly brings me to the sanding
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Another option the Hook knife
The hook Knife is a great tool to help me get closer the final shape. Here you can see the type of shavings I get using this tool, a little different to the scraper, these are actually chips
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Still another option I use
This tool is a Pull-shave, it is a bronze body and steel blade. This one for me is still in the experimental stage of getting used to the blade adjustments and the handling of the tool. The adjustments of the blade are at this point a little difficult to get just the right depth of cut. Not as easy as the hook knife or scraper the shavings are larger and this tool can be very aggressive in the removal of wood. So for big wonks or a lot of shaping it is great... then I still have to go back to the scraper to get rid of the tool tracks.
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The curved spockeshave
The out side of the bowl I use the spokeshave to smooth and shave the final form before sanding, and scraping.
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The scraper used on the outside
This scraper is also honed to a razor sharp edge, and I hold it like this for maximum control as I cradle the bowl in my lap. It is a process of smoothing and shaping getting ready for the final shaping with 100 grit sand paper and pad
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Sand paper and pad
100 Grit sandpaper is the final stage of shaping. It is aggressive and gets me to the smooth final shape,,, where the real finishing begins.
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Sanding
The final approach to sanding. This is when I take out the final wonks of the carving. The grain changes in figured wood often have a different hardness of grain, the softer grain removes faster then the hard thus creating wonks,,, this is difficult to even out for a smooth surface. The flexible pad helps bridge the hollows and helps me get a flat surface. I need to do this a quickly as possible and this is the only way I have found to do that so far. On the outside of the bowl I use a thicker less flexible pad to get the surface ready for the progression to finer grits working from 120 grit to 800 or more. At 350 or 400 grit I stop and run the bowl under hot water to raise the grain and then when the wood has dried I start at 350 and continue to 800 or more.
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Ascention
This carving is a process of evolution of discovery and development. This work is of a spiritual metaphor for the transition form this world to the next or the transformation of the living spirit to the level of spiritual evolution to a new spirit filled and motiated life....Mine being no accept ion.
Ascending Spirit.... Is the title
Ascending Spirit ... This carving is inspired from the moment Christ's spirit left the cross... Though it is also meant as a visual translation of the process of our human form making the transition from tactile to eternal spirit. As described change between the dying of ones self to the new body in Christ... The facet of ascending to a higher plane.This is a wonderful exercise in carving to create a transitional flow from solid to the wisp. Creating a movement in the static. The challenge here is to carve smoke! to give the impression of a transition from matter to ether.
Ascending Spirit ... This carving is inspired from the moment Christ's spirit left the cross... Though it is also meant as a visual translation of the process of our human form making the transition from tactile to eternal spirit. As described change between the dying of ones self to the new body in Christ... The facet of ascending to a higher plane.This is a wonderful exercise in carving to create a transitional flow from solid to the wisp. Creating a movement in the static. The challenge here is to carve smoke! to give the impression of a transition from matter to ether.
Wisps of smoke like form
The challenge here is to carve smoke! to give the impression of a transition from matter to ether.
Movement
This Cherry wood is so wonderful to carve GREEN and anticipate the flow of the colours in the grain and manipulating the grain to follow the direction of the tool tracks
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Morphing in progress
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