Welcome back!
This week we will be taking a break from the painting that has been the subject of this diary for the last few weeks. Instead, I have photos of a sculpture I did many years ago. I offer it as the start of the art show here today. Feel free to post small photos of your own artwork. Any type is welcome.
The sculpture featured in the 2 photos below was done while I was in college. It was one of two required pieces for the semester. It was done in the late 1970’s and depicts a stylized 1930’s car. It was carved, with a mallet and chisel from a single elm log, elm wood being plentiful at that time due to rampant Dutch elm disease. It is about 15 inches long.
I treated the wood with 2 bands of orange color composed of, what else, acrylic paint. The surface was finished and subsequently waxed. The cracks at the front of the car are natural to the wood. There is also a crack in the roof.
While much time was spent carving the basic shape, considerable time was spent getting the piece smooth. There are still a few flaws in the finishing of the piece due to time constraints. But overall, this is one of the pieces from that time of which I am most pleased.
Well, I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours!
< crosses arms > I’m waiting…
That is just beautiful!
I just recently discovered how much I enjoy sculpture. My one frustration with museum experiences is that one isn’t allowed to touch the sculptures!
The curves in your car and the swirls in the wood are very sensuous – actually, your piece gives me a better understanding of why some folks “Oooh and aah” over vehicles!
Thanks.
Does it make you want to stroke it? I can just feel that “hood” under my hand.
Yes! I want to follow the swirls with my fingers, sort of a natural wood labyrinth. And I want to feel the texture, finding the rough spots and the smooth, comparing the painted with the natural wood…
Is it getting hot in here, or is it just me?
Somebody needed to say it ;o)
lol! If you build it they will come?
Sorry, but somebody needed to say that, too!
Or: they will cum. < ducks >
Somebody needed to say that too.
One in the hand is worth two in the bush?
Sooo sorry LOL
I didn’t quite have the nerve to type it like that. So glad I can depend on you!
The full story is here
As usual feel free to use as you see fit for the cause!
Awwww!! That little lizard tongue!
Noooo! It’s too early!
I haven’t seen many of these. Great work but yeah, that tongue, ewww!
A few of the things I’ve done. If I find more maybe I’ll post them later.
Thanks Boran2
btw, some of these are/were in progress photos.
I was flown to Skater, in Michigan to paint this boat.
….and last, but not least,
a frog with
ATTITUDE
Wow, just wow. It is really cool to get to finally see some of your work, supersoling. Pardon my ignorance, but are the cars race cars? Surely they are just Ride Down the Street Like Any Ordinary Driver cars.
And tell me this. . .did any of these designs come from that business we were talking about earlier, where you close your eyes and designs roll past?
Wow, can you come and do my Toyota? 😉
Here’s a better look at the frog.
How ironic ;o)
The new face of BT?
Supersoling!!! My immediate response was just – “Oh my, oh my!” Beautiful!
I just love artwork on cars. I have often wondered if the same techniques could be used on my appliances. Oh, to have the refrigerator and oven and washing machine and dryer covered in beautiful designs and colors…
Thank you so much for sharing your work.
I love that idea, tampopo. I also love painted floors.
Stunning. Simply stunning.
My word, you are quite the package, SS!
(And if you’d like to quote that comment to your buddies, feel free to take liberties in substituting the word “are” with the word “have” ;^)
Good day!
Good Lord!
I’m speechless ;o)
Besides, I’m a little sleepy still from my late night romp with Shirl, Diane, Stark, Spiderleaf, Kamakhya, and last but not least, my buddy Shermanesqe ;o)
But I’m not braggin’!
I’ve got a BIG love hangover ;o)
Totally worth the wait…I knew they’d be awesome…Cabin the Elder is totally impressed too (and wants you to “pimp his ride” when he gets a car!).
Those are absolutely gorgeous you!!! I’ll have to commission you to come out here and do my lil ol’ Honda…
No commission required ;o)
I’ll make a note of that. 😉
WOW Michael! I sure would love to have you come out to sunny California and paint my little Trcker. Maybe I will wait until I purchase that Harley I have always wanted next year.
Leezy, you get that Harley….
I’ll be there.
You’re on. There are about a kazillion things I want to do before I die and it seems I have started checking some of them off. My car is six years old and only has 33,000 miles on it. The benefit of living where you work…short commute. I have two more payments and then I am payment free. I am going to take that money and save for a bit for a down stroke on a Harley. Hey, I might even let you ride with me..teehee. LOVE your work and I really want the tank to at least be custom.
Also, if someone would teach me how to post a pic or can post it for me I would love to show off my new tattoo.
I haven’t really painted much lately, but here are a few works I painted in the past:
self portrait in oils
guardian
really, really….
Nice to see you ’round these parts!
Thanks for the kind words re: the painting.
I read Bootrib pretty much every day, but rarely comment, though I am not really sure why.
When the mood strikes you — I hope you won’t hesitate to jump right in — you (under the HHG handle) were one of the first people I started going out of my way to read on dKos.
I hope everything is going well for you these days, and really, with talent like that, I hope you pick up the brushes again sometime very soon!
I tried to pick up the brush back in april and I wasn’t too pleased with the results. I have been focusing on painting with words over the past six months. It was pointed out to me by a friend who is compiling my blog posts that I have written a 200+ page book of poems and short stories, which shocked me.
Once the madness of the holidays passes, I will probably move back to painting.
Again, these are great! Nice to see you here.
These should be hanging in the Lourve, seriously.
The second one is so poignant and….relevent.
Amazing work.
Louvre of course
Oh! Now that’s interesting :o)
Did I mention I’m looking for an apprentice? ;o)
He’ll be right over…both the boys are totally impressed with your work! 🙂
Verrrry nice. Great imagination.
CG, can you blow this up a little?
There’s so much to look at in there :o)
Like one of those Where in the world is Waldo books, only with a lot more imagination. Or like a Beatles Yellow Submarine cover.
The carrot! Cooool!
No.
Delightful! – perhaps Cabin the Elder would consider writing a diary of the story that he was imagining as he drew this.
I would love to read it!
You have a nice warm fireplace don’t you?
I could never understand how such intricate patterns are woven. The patience alone….
I love the colors in the first one especially.
Aquamarine, Fuscia..a perfect combination.
I got the yarn for the first one at this really cool place in Damariscotta, Maine. I spent a LONG time picking all the individual yarns out to go together, but they’re all my favorite colors.
Doing the cables and stitches in the second one is probably my favorite kind of knitting, because you get into a rhythym with it. The last one is super-intricate, and takes major concentration to do without making mistakes, plus the stitches are extremely small (it’s like knitting on those skewers they use for shish kebab).
More wowing going on! My god, the intricacy of that last pattern, CG. . .that’s impressive. And I esp. love the colors in the first one.
Thanks, kansas. I’m actually looking forward to getting back to knitting now that it’s winter. Last year, I did little cabled baby sweaters and hats for a friend who had twins; I wish I had taken pictures of those!
Wow CG, beautiful!!
I am an amateur in everything I do it seems. I started knitting last winter, but lost my local mentor, so it’s a bit difficult.
Most of my stuff is photos, which are currently on the wall and hard to take pics of behind the glass. And since they’re taken with a ‘real’ camera (not a digital one), they’re not on my computer.
Amateur? In everything?
I find that hard to believe. I can see you writing a really snarky, trendy daily guide to the live music scene in Manhattan, or something along those lines.
Writing reviews for Indy, or underground bands.
You see it?
I see it ;o)
Shucks, thanks!
Well, I think it may have more to do with my distaste for the general public, if you can believe that. Gosh, when I first shared my blog link, I was SO nervous. And it’s only my friends who go there, but still.
Ah, life in the big city. Some days I wonder about that.
We used to have a knit night every other week during the winter…taught a few folks to knit, plus it was an extra incentive to make actual progress on your projects before the next get-together.
My only problem was that I had to pick simple projects to work on, because I talk too much (surprised?) and make mistakes.
I wish you could show us some of your photos. Someday I want to be a better photographer.
I’ll have to see if I can find some local knitting folks. I’m sure they’re around.
I do want to take my photos out of their frames and get them on my computer. I will one day. Actually, a photo blog is number two on my list for new blog projects, so it could happen relatively soon. Relative after the holidays, of course. Unless I get a whim… I’m like that. 🙂
CabinGirl – these are gorgeous!
Long ago I tried crocheting, but gave it up cause it was causing me to drink too much to relieve the stress.
Never even gave knitting a try, but I do so appreciate the art of textiles and the crafting.
I actually like knitting better than crocheting. My grandmother was a doily crocheter, and I don’t know how she did it, but she did an entire king-sized bedspread for my mother.
My mom is an amazing quilter…should I post some pics of her work too? 🙂
Those are so nice, CG.
This morning I went to the Holiday craft show at my kids’ high school and there was an 11 year old boy who had knitted these beautiful scarves himself and the label said “handmade by Matthew”…well Matthew was sitting right there as I was admiring how neat and incredibly soft the scarves were and when I went to leave he looked so disappointed that I turned right around and bought one for $15. I’m such a sucker. But you gotta love a little guy who knits scarves that feel like you’re wearing a kitten around your neck.
I love it when boys/guys knit. Would you believe I just came back from shopping for some yarn to knit scarves with while I’m hanging out at the boys winter lax camp tomorrow?
And now I have to go drag myself out to see Bonnie Raitt. I can’t believe I’m saying that, but I am…
Oooh! < humming Runaway >
She was great btw…
CG, very beautiful work. I love it!
Thanks Boran2. Your car looks so smooth! What was the other project you had to do?
As usual, I must be missing something.
Thanks for posting this, Boran. You never fail to brighten my Saturdays (and many other days in between).
I love the lines of your sculpture – and I never would have guessed that some of the coloring was introduced through acrylic paints – it all looks quite natural.
Back in the mid 1970s I made a walnut coffee table (during the first year in which they finally allowed girls to attend shop classes). The coloring of my table looks very similar to the coloring of your sculpture – including the shades of orange. At the time, I was fairly annoyed with the teacher for insisting that I sand that sucker for weeks on end. But 30 years later I find myself really appreciating the teacher’s demands for quality.
I mostly remember the therapeutic attributes of woodworking. Lathe work remains my personal favorite. (I’m currently smiling in memory of all the items we created behind the teacher’s back – items that would land us in a jail cell next to Tommy Chong nowadays.)
Speaking of sanding and such, did you wet-sand the car to achieve such beautiful luster?
Thanks again – and have yourself a fabulous day!
Thanks for your kind comments. No, it was ordinary hand sanding, finished and waxed. I too miss woodworking and hope to go back to it some day.
That’s making me hungry ;o)
I should have entitled it ‘Rose Popsicle.’