The drum project has a life of its own. Being used as an actual drum. Here it is with some friends before being put to work.
About the rolling ball sculpture project….
I’m ready to purchase wood! I did a couple of mock ups, and think it’s time for the official design.
I don’t usually start staining w/o a solid design in mind, but thought I’d try it on this one. It makes sense, since I’m working with someone elses’ work. They need to happily co-exist…or something. It also gave me a chance to see how my latest stain purchases work with the older ones. So, I latched on to the best part or two of my sketches and went to work. I’m using a rather warped piece of pine that is both too long and too narrow — but close enough for testing and sampling.
There’s my trusty bone folder. It’s that flat, plastic bookmark-looking thing at the top next to the tape. I use it to burnish the edges of the tape. The stain likes to spread everywhere if I’m not careful. Yes, I run the bone folder over ever single edge of tape. Carefully. I can always tell when I’m too tired to work, because I’ll miss an edge and end up with stain seeping into the next part of the work. Which means more effort in the long run. Best to be conscientious in the first place.
The rolling ball sculpture is in my house. Tom’s part is done for now. I’ve been working out some ideas in my head. And by that I mean that I’ve spent quite a bit of time running those marbles through their paces. Getting a feel for the sculpture, and how someone else might interact with it. Sometimes the marbles are sent together, sometimes spaced out a bit. I’ve even been know to set them free somewhere in the middle of the run. It’s all part of the process, you’ll just have to trust me on that.
I feel I have three different ways that the base could go.
Or, maybe a compination of all three? In an effort to learn more about RBS, I’ve googled. Here’s one with a traingular base and one made of wood. And one out of Legos!
I finally finished those trivets (and my work in North Vernon). I know, it’s been a long time. The last phase was to put cork on the back. I found a roll that had adhesive already on it, and saved time. I need to take some good pics, but will happily show them as soon as I can.
I officially have a shop on Etsy. I have nothing to sell, yet, but I’m taking my time so that I do it mostly right the first time. I’ll keep you posted.
New project! My friend Tom Harold, who makes rolling ball sculptures, has asked me to make a base for his latest creation. He brought it by the house, and I took a bunch of pictures and brainstormed a bit with Tom. I have a few ideas already, but it still feels very early in the process. Tom’s part is almost done, though, so make sure to check it out.
I’ve been busy. Working, mostly.
So, I thought I might share some photos of my week. I’ve been driving about 70 miles to North Vernon each morning (leaving town at 6am — ack!) to help update the rigging at the Jennings County High School auditorium.
My guess is that some of the things we are replacing are original to the building from 1968.
The first day was spent on top of the scaffold taking down all of their soft goods: main curtain, several pairs of legs, a few borders and couple of travellers.
We’re currently working to replace all of the chains used to hang the pipes from the ceiling trusses. It doesn’t look like much from the floor — just giant dust bunnies and broken links of chain. You can ask any of the teachers that like to wander in. They tend to leave looking disappointed.
Old vs. new
I’m sitting at work, waiting until the people on the stage floor (70 feet below me) need me.
The view from my chair
It’s the first big show of the new year. I should be excited just to get my hands back into the game. So, in my down time, what do I think about? Staining wood. I’ve been mentally working out a problem with mounting some wall pieces that I’ve been working on, and suddenly had and idea. I’m goin’ industrial. Tek screws, maybe. Then, another idea. Using initials with simple patterns, both inside and on the background. I’m looking around me for a piece of paper or pen or anything to write on, and nothing. Another idea, and at this point I’m almost frantically trying to remember all of these ideas. I can’t forget! Who knows when I’ll be able to sketch something. Of all the unlikely places to get inspired….
My workspace and tools of the trade for the day.
So far, I’ve had some great reaction to my Etsy thoughts. Thanks to everyone who commented. I have to admit that I haven’t done much research since my last post, and I should start here. Oh, and I should finish those trivets that I’ve been working on since December — so that I can sell them! A look at some of the competition trivets: wood and otherwise. I guess that means I should get back to work.
To do list in no particular order:
I really have been working!
set up Etsy shop
finish trivets
check into shipping
read Dos and Don’ts
??
I’m thinking about Etsy. Do I need a store? Is now the time to try to sell some of my pieces? Do I even have enough finished to start that in motion?
I like Etsy. It gives artists an easy place to be found and sell their work. From the site: Your place to buy & sell things handmade. There’s even an entire woodworking category. Here’s a fun looking chess board I’ve found. Oh, and a set of rings that I wouldn’t mind getting as a gift. Too bad they are all the way in France; I’d like a closer look. I could go on and on about the items and shops that I’ve bookmarked.
Anyway, I’m looking into it,and reading the Dos and Don’ts of Etsy. Feel free to send me your thougts on this, as I’m having trouble even posting about it. Really, I’d love some input.
Here’s a look at what I did with the back:
First, the penciled design
The beginning
It took my quite some time to work out the top
Almost ready for the base color
The home stretch
The final artwork
Just the penciled lines of the design. Yes, I use tracing paper!
Working on the design
Almost all of the design has been stained.
The design is mostly done, and I've started the base color.
No more design to work on. Just the base.
The front is almost done. I did the sides and past the purfling at the same time.
There's the front!
Here’s a link or two that might be interesting:
Inlaying the purfling — a video
Stained Woods: Art by Tina Hanagan, Bloomington, IN 