Descending Ashtray

This is a site specific table that I am making for our neighbor, hence the unusual shape. The spindle legs are perhaps a little more traditional of a style then what I would normally make but it was a fun project to work on and figure out. The spindles themselves are not square stock at the top and bottom. They are more of an arrowhead like diamond shape which made it tricky finding the center point for turning them. I also learned early on not to use a wide gouge on the transition between the square and the round part of the spindle. The first attempt splintered out really bad and made it unusable. The second attempt went much smoother. I wrapped masking tape around the part I wanted to stay square and used my narrowest scraper to cut into the spindle at angle that moved the knife away from the grain instead of into it. Anyway the rest of the legs turned out pretty good. Then I Kreg jigged everything together from the bottom.

I probably should have taken more pictures to illustrate the process, oh well, maybe next time.

(I realized after posting the picture that it is kind of hard to see that the top is a trapezoid shape. In the picture it looks like a long table that is foreshortened. It is kind of an optical illusion.)

8″ x 13″

Oil on panel

The painting is of a place in Zion National Park in Southern Utah. The park was absolutely beautiful. I actually climbed out to the peak in the center of the painting. It was a crazy hike, with 2,000 ft. drop offs on either side of the trail. One the most amazing places I have ever been to!

I have been working on this painting on and off for a couple of days. And I am kind of developing a love/hate relationship with it. On one side I am really happy with where it is going (it is still a work in progress), on the other side I feel rather lost in the detail. I need to find more clarity and unity within the painting. I am going to work on it some more. I just wanted to post it to maybe get a fresh perspective on it.

This is a field easel I have been working on. I attached the camera mount piece to the wood easel. It clips in and out of the tripod very easily. The idea was to make it as simple and light weight as possible, yet sturdy enough to handle a canvas that is 21″ high.

Everything folds up small enough to fit in a backpack or bike bag. Very cheap too. I could probably make all the components to attach to any tripod for $30.

9″ x 11.5″

Charcoal on paper

I used to do a lot of life drawing back in college but have not done much of it recently. A friend of mine organizes a group and I joined them for the first time today. It was a really good experience and the two hours just flew by. This was the drawing I worked on today.

8″ x 13″

Oil on panel

8″ x 13″

Oil on masonite panel

This is a painting study from memory. I was driving home yesterday evening and saw the most interesting sky. There were some low hanging dark clouds and the sun was dropping almost to the edge. The contrast between the clouds and the sun created a bar of light. It is hard to describe and even paint but this is my attempt. Nature still proves to be more awe inspiring!

(I invented the field. I wanted something more peaceful then the junky stores and traffic of Army Post rd.)