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Barging In

12/21/2012

I stared working with this fellow from Shelter Island In Long Island NY. He approach me through a Picture Framers Blog that My Brother is part of, (to make a long story short)
This Fellow owns a Gallery and he also does Cutom picture framing.

When looking at his website I saw the he is creatvely utilizing a Shipping Container as his studio.
So I thought something that looked somewhat industial would fit the bill.
I sketched out this barge shaped sign to get his opinion.

His first Impression was not so favorable, he was worried it would make his place look like a boat Yard.
Then Came "SANDY" and I thought I had lost him with the storm.
After some delay It appeared that he had safely made it through he storm and wanted to pick this up again.

The storm delay gave him a chance to digest the design I proposed and He warmed up to the Idea.

After some long hours designing with Enroute, and a little back and forth with the client, I finally had something the was looking pretty good.
Here is a screen shot from my monitor of the sign as it would be cut on the router.
The black and white posts above the barge would be fabricated of steel and sandwiched between the front and back of the sign as structural hanging supports.

Stay tunned as this becomes a reality!

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Cabin Fever anyone

11/24/2012

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OK now you can tell Dawn & Tom that their Prize is waiting.

I added a few details and some shading, gave him some facial features and a quick protective clear coat now her's ready to venture out doors.

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Moose On the loose

11/22/2012

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The Cabin Fever restaurant located in Bartlett Village was last months recipient of the coveted DAJ Fine woodworking's Mount Washington valley's chamber after hours prize of a custom designed sign plaque.
Dawn & her husband Tom decided on a simple address number incorporating a moose or bear. Prior to looking at their web site I did a quick search for images of Moose on the Intrnet.
I found a couple that I liked and saved the images for future use.

This was one I picked out as a option.
Then I went to look at their site and saw that they had actually used the exact same moose on their site.
So I guess my decision was made on which moose image I would use.

So! a little design work in Enroute Cad cam Software (my design software for cnc machining). Then off to the Multicam CNC Router.

I have to admit I gave Dawn & Tom a little white lie, I told them I'd be in touch when I found something that I though would work.
But doing this kind of work I like to use the element of suprize especially if the piece is a freebe.

follow along as I complete the finishing process

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Everything is fuel

10/29/2012

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I Find that there are materials all around us that can be used in an artful way.
We have had the top stone of this piece on our property for the past 25+years, I had the opportunity to grab the post piece from another property we own and as soon as I saw it I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it.
Here is the result just as I imagined it.
For reference the post is about 4 1/2 feet out of the ground.

At some point I will probably sand blast off the name and do something more decorative.

This just goes to show that art is simply something that pleases the eye and it can be any material that you can get your hands on.
let your imagination run free!

It also helps to have the right tools for the job, Here I drilled the top of the post and the bottom of the top stone with a 1 1/4" hole and inserted a piece of pipe as a pin. I also had the assistence of my good friend John ("John Deere") that is, as in tractor to lift these two heavy pieces.

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Glazy crazy

9/24/2012

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With the base coat done and given a chance to set up it's time to start with the glaze coats. I started with this first color that I mixed up and called
"Fudgecicle" but once it dried I had to rename it to "chocolate covered cherry", (mostly a chocolate brown with some red tones).
Then toned it down with a grayish green also a custom mix I dubbed "Crete".
The glazes are Paint Mixed with a clear exterior paint base. I sprayed this on and then wiped and rubbed off the high areas with a rag leaving the color in the deeper cracks and crevases.

As I am still learning the finer details of this process I feel like I should have reversed the last two colors and done the "crete"1st and the chocolate coveres Cherry last.
I end up applying a third coat of glaze that was another custom dark chocolate brown to bring back some of the depth and contrast.

For this project I'm happy with the results.
The trees look fairly realistic.
The fun part of this is you can make these as antimated as you like given the particular application.
Now it's time to repaint all the surrounding trim , doors and clapboards.
One thing I know for certian is these will never rot.

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Getting Primed for 1st Base

9/17/2012

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After all the scuplting is completed and the concrete has a few days to cure, it's time to start the process of priming.
I find this a very tedious process. Using a small stiff bristled brush you need to fill all the little nooks and crannies that are in the concrete. Each one of these trees takes about an hour to prime.

Even with just the primer these look pretty cool. "Odd but cool".

Next step The base coat. (note the color difference of the one closest to the camera) On this project I'm starting with a color called "Corkboard" I haven't tried this one yet so we'll see how it goes, with this type of work experimenting is learning.

Generally You want to start with your lighter colors and work towards the darker with the glazes.

The base coat goes on a little better than the primer and starts to smooth out the texture alittle.

I'm anxious to start with the next step (glazing) but the way the weather looks for the next few days I will have to be patient.

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Carved in Crete

9/11/2012

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I started this project last spring and am just now getting back to it.
I added some branches to the tops of the trees and attempted to flair the bases with pressure treated wood to be covered by wire lathe.
But I realy wasn't pleased with the outcome so I pulled out the welder and fabricated a pencil rod skeleton to attach the wire lathe to (this method allowed me to get a little more fluid with the shapes of the bases.)

Here you can see the flexability you have when using the pencil rod , It's easy to bend to any shape you want with your hands and by welding you can securely attach it anywhere you please.

Once everything is shaped and covered with the wire lathe it's time to get out the concrete stuff.
On these small trees and the branches it's a teadious process.
This is a rough application process working from the top down.(you cannot work the concrete much at all or it will just fall off of the lathe) the only way to do this is to apply a little at a time and at the most three swipes with a trowel then move on, and on, and on.

After the concrete is applied you need to be patient and wait for the concrete to set up enough before you start to carve it, or again it will just fall off.
Using a variety of crude tools, a sharpened stick, a customized butter knife, some rolled up wire lathe, a stiff brush and a soft brush to name a few.
you start carving letting your imagination be your guide.

This a very labor intensive process but the results are outstanding, I don't know of another way to accomplish this type of detail.

These will look really cool once they have been painted and glazed.

Another display to show potential customers. This type of work needs to be seen, It's difficult to explain it.

stay tunned for the finishing touches.

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Chamber voucher options

9/11/2012

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As have mentioned in previous posts I give away a gift voucher each month at the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce's chamber after hours event.
As a Option to the custom plaque that I give away you, also have the choice to get a $200 credit towards any custom sign order.

I think you'll be able to tell who won this particular voucher.
Here they opted to utilize the credit towards some "A" frame job site signs.

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Another plaqueSigned sealed & delivered

8/27/2012

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This is what I was given to work from for my next Chamber after hours gift plaque.
I give away one such plaque each month at the Mount Washington Valley's Chamber of Commerce , Chamber after ours meetings.
The winner was having this done for his wive (a school teacher) to hang in her Class room.
He also wanted to include the word "inspire".

So Off I go searching the web for images of apples. I find one that is pretty simple (just a line drawing) I import the drawing into my Enroute software, trace over the lines and then start building my relief files to give the apple some shape.
This image is after the piece is routed and primed, (I neglected to get any pictures of the process in between.( sorry!)

Then it's off to the "Kolor Kavern" (the name I have given the paint storage room in my shop)

first the base coat (yellow)
then the marroon applied like a glaze coat (brushed on and wiped off with a rag leaving more paint in certian areas.)

Some bits of green,yellow,red all blended in different quantities on a pallet for the apple, a touch of white for the sheen of light and finally the gold for the text.

Hopefully this will be an Inspiration to her Sixth grade students for many years to come.

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Friends will be friends

8/17/2012

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I've been working on some Top Secret stuff so I haven't been able to post without letting the cat out of the bag.

This is the logo (or so he said) for a true friend that is starting a new venture in the Stowe area of Vermont.
It was a suprise gift (hence the top secret stuff)

So After some Work on the computer using Enroute software.( http://www.enroutesoftware.com/default.aspx )

I built the file to send to the Multicam router, ( http://www.multicam.com/eng/ ) and way it goes.

At this stage I have Primed the High Density Urethane foam, applied the yellow for a base coat, then I'm starting with the glaze coat that gets wiped off with a rag to get the wood grain effect.

Some more detailing with the paints (Steel Grey for the frame & Pharaoh's Gold for the text) (from the Modern Masters metallic collection of paints) http://www.modernmasters.com/products.asp?mode=lp_palette&lid=3&gid=18

And another sign is ready for delivery; Now if he only gave me the correct logo life would be great. I'm going to have to route off the "BK" and recut the new logo then adhere it to the sign. Stuff Happens!

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Author

Donald A. Johnson

This is an on going story of my explorations into the artistic world,chronicling the process of this journey. Highlighting my successes as well as my failures. I'll try not to focus on the failures, but they are what has taught me the most.
I Owe the ability to take this journey to; My Mom
(for she bred in me a drive and creativity required for this type of trip) My Incredible Wife and Children for their support, and to the world of creative people that inspire me everyday.
One in particular is Dan Sawatzky (click here to meet Dan) This Guy has Changed the way I look at things. He is truly an artist and a Visionary with passion.

Barging In

Stay tunned as this becomes a reality!

Cabin Fever anyone

Moose On the loose

follow along as I complete the finishing process

Everything is fuel

Glazy crazy

Getting Primed for 1st Base

Carved in Crete

stay tunned for the finishing touches.

Chamber voucher options

Another plaqueSigned sealed & delivered

Friends will be friends

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