Works in Progress

Here's a sneak-peek of a work-in-progress, non-furniture piece I'm working on in my spare time. Like several of the smaller tables I've been making over the last 6 months or so, this piece works on a 30/60-degree angle star pattern. People regularly assume these pieces are created using an inlay. However, inlay (as either marquetry or parquetry) involves placing a pattern or image on top of an underlayment or other structural surface; whereas this piece is solidly handcrafted using 1,000 - 1,500 individual pieces.

It's about 40" square and though you probably can't tell from the photo, the thickness of the individual pieces range from about 1/2" to 1". The woods used to make the angular stripes are cherry and walnut. The colored stars are made of canary wood, blood wood and redheart.

Eventually, the piece will be sanded so that the surface smoothly follows the contour of the individual pieces. When completed, both pieces will be wall-mounted. Before sanding and finishing this piece, I'm going to make a plaster cast that will become a second piece. I still have to figure out how to do that. If I try to pour plaster directly on the wood, the water in the plaster will soak into the wood fibers and ruin the whole piece. Plaster will also stick like glue to a piece with as much texture as this. The plaster casting process will likely involve a combination of rubber and plaster molding. If you have any suggestions, I'd certainly consider them...

These other pieces are a couple examples of smaller fabrications that I've made mostly from the scraps from the above piece and some of earlier star tables. These pieces are also meant to be wall-mounted. The evolution of these pieces will be to make more sculptural, 3-dimensional objects in which these pieces are sort of like walls. But that'll probably be a while.

Vinyl Lives! Jason's LP cabinet finished

I started a fancy two-tiered combination record cabinet and turntable holder for my client, Jason, a few weeks ago. I was thrilled to deliver it completed, along with a little bonus LP, earlier this week. Since I'm an avid record collector, I had a blast making this cabinet and hope I get a chance to make some others similar to this one. Maybe I'll even have time one day to make one for myself.

From my original design, I couldn't resist making a couple changes and embellishments. First, I traded out the proposed paper strap door pulls and handles for a set I hand-turned from canarywood. They're likely to last a little longer, especially since they'll be in arms reach of an adventurous 2-year-old. I also inlayed a single star pattern in the top of the lid that's similar to the tables and other pieces I've been making recently.

The project also created several challenges for me; namely the compound angles I had to cut and join to create the top. I also learned that next time I make something like this, I should try to make the top a little lighter (it's kind of a beast).

Each tier of the cabinet holds around 75 - 100 12-inch LPs, which should be plenty of space for Jason to expand his collection.

Staying Grounded

Fridays have become one of my favorite days lately. No, not because it's the end of the traditional work week (there is no end to my work week); but because I get to spend Friday afternoons assisting another artist, sculptor Littleton Alston.

I was previously Littleton's assistant from 2003 - 2008, helping him with a number of tasks that ran the gammit from mold-making, waxwork, helping pour bronze(!), welding armatures and sweeping the floor. For instance, I spent Saturday morning finishing a some beautiful paduak bases I made for some of his stainless steel sculptures.

Working with Littleton in the past and now again taught me all kinds of technical skills and has equally influenced my work ethic and aesthetic. I wouldn't have had the discipline or desire to start Measure Cut Cut Studio without Littleton's influence, advice and help. In essence, Littleton has been one of my most important mentors, inside and out of the studio.

Fridays give me a chance to escape my own studio for a while to concentrate on helping someone else accomplish their aesthetic vision while making a few bucks along the way. It's also a great way to reflect on my own process and vision and gain insight and criticism from someone I greatly respect. Working a few hours a week for Littleton is also a constant reminder of where I started my own artistic journey several years ago, and where I'd like to be several years from now. In essence, working on someone else's art helps keep me grounded, focused and, as Anthony Bourdain says, "hungry for more."

Coming up: Jason's LP cabinet is finished; more of those star things are on their way; early preparation for the Bemis Center auction; and an extra cool conversation with Rick Waters of the Sawdust Chronicles!

Jason's Record Cabinet: In Process

As some of you may be aware, I'm kind of a vinyl junkie. I've built up a sizeable collection of LPs and 45s over the past 10 years. However, I've never taken the opportunity to build myself a cabinet worthy of its would-be contents. My friend and client Jason, however, is going to have a nice cabinet for his collection very soon.

The below image is a simple drawing that I'm using as a basis for building Jason's cabinet. I'm in the process right now, and am really enjoying building it knowing it'll be in someone's home who I think is really cool, and will house something that I have such a strong appreciation for.

The cabinet is constructed of walnut and comes as a two-piece set. The top section includes a beveled, hinged lid that, when opened, will reveal Jason's turntable. There will also be a display rack attached to one side that will serve a dual function of holding and highlighting the jacket of the record in use. I like to think of that feature as the home stereo version of a cranky record store clerk's "Now Playing" rack. Underneath that will be a shelf with doors that will hold about a crate's worth of LPs. The lower section is a similarly sized shelf unit. I'm flirting with using paper as a structural element again with this piece, proposing to use it as the handles for the doors and top.

A feature that doesn't come through the drawing is the beautifully figured walnut in the photo to the right. The spirally, funnel grain pattern will be incorporated into the doors.

I can already tell this is shaping up to be the kind of project that's hard to give up.