The Commission: "Double Aloha" install

 

Side shots of the special risers that suspend everything off of the wall gives the illusion that the whole piece is mysteriously floating in midair.

This special commission was for a private collector's beautiful Mid-Century-Modern showcase home in Palm Springs. A framed piece would have thrown off the whole balance of surrounding ceiling and wall angles, as well as it's surroundings. Much consideration was necessary to harmonize my piece within the space.

Now, I am beginning to work on new pieces for the M Modern Gallery for the upcoming 2013 Mid-Century Modernism week in Palm Springs, CA… so stay tuned…

The Commission: Completed

"Double Aloha"

9.5" x 64"

Exotic Wenge Wood with Black & White Ebony highlights floating off the wall on custom standoffs

With a total of 10 sanding by hand [with the grain] between each layer of Crystalac and gloss Poloycrylic, my piece is finally complete. I quickly laied it out for a photo before heading out to the install. Here is a quick shot of the bottom, including the ebony signature piece:

Next: The Install

The Commission: part 3

This is what the section pictured below looked like from the front, after hand sanding, pre- hand edge shaping, pore filling as well as staining the edges so the whole piece pops off the wall.

After 3 coats of Crystalac, it is now ready for multiple layers of Polycoat with more hand sanding between each layer. 

…who needs to go to the gym when you can just sand your way to shapeliness…

Next post: finished Polycoating and inner ebony highlights.

Commission: part 2 [still the view from the back]

Fully shaped. 

Next came the sealing in of the inner frame. But first I had to create the edges to retain the resin. The bolts are for making sure the riser openings are not filled. 

The end result. 

Tomorrow: The sneak peak view from the front.

The commission I am working on for a private collector.

A while back, I was approached to create a wonderfully large piece for a designated space in a beautiful Mid-Century Modern home. My design is shaped from exotic wenge wood with black & white ebony highlights. I have been working on this for the past 3 months. […so maybe you will understand why I am not on back on Facebook yet…] The area has very specific design requirements and needed to be free-form with no frame. When finished, it will be over 5 feet tall and only 9 1/2 inches wide and will float off the wall via a custom riser system as if hovering there by magic.

Here is beginning of my process, the starting with the back view.

Before any shaping of the actual design could take place, I had to have an inner metal skeleton water jetted in order to give the wood a core as well as inner strength.

Special holes were tapped in the metal to accommodate the custom riser system. I then routed an inner pocket into the back the piece so the metal frame could be flush fit.

I then epoxied the aluminum frame in place and clamped it down as it cured.Next: the shaping of the design. I will post new pictures all this week and wrap up with the final design when installed.

Tura Santana tribute piece for the M Modern Gallery

Inspired from the Russ Meyer's cult classic "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" It is 3 dimensional with glow-in-the-dark telephone lines and sun. I created the frame with a vintage black lacquer look in mind.

 "Splatter"

19" x 13"
sold
 "Splatter" has since been sold but you can find the one below, as well as a few others by clicking here. 

 I grew up watching old movies and TV shows and was thrilled when saw that Tura Satana Productions was putting on a tribute show at the M Modern Gallery in Palm Springs. Opening reception: Saturday, Sept 15th, 7:30pm to 10:30pm. 

 If you want to find out a little more about Tura's amazingly colorful life, here is a fantastic and insightful interview.

Here is the current list of the participating artists:

SHAG, JOHN MULDER, DAVE CALVER, ROD NORTH, HELEN MACFARLANE, NGAIO MACFARLANE, NICLOLE STEEN, EVA MOESENEDER, MARY BETH ACOSTA, FIONA MACFARLANE, KIRSTEN EASTHOPE, GREG REYES, ANDI GEE, MARTHA POWER, ANDREA SWEENEY, ANTHONY CARPENTER, SUSANNAH MOSHER, ELSTABO ART, ZOEY STEVENS, ARON GAGLIARDO, DARREN WONG, RICK MORRIS, JAKE DAVIS, MICHAEL BERMAN, GARILYN BRUNE, SARA RAY, MICHELLE BICKFORD, NANOO DES BOIS, ERICA HESSE, JANICE SORIANO, SCOTT ALCHER, RHOBBY, MICH O'CONNELL, THE PIZZ, DOUG HORNE, COLIN JOHNSON, GREG HERGERT, SANDI LANGMAN-FUTURE, NIKKI DYER, JOHANNAH O'DONNELL, TONY CAMPAGNA, LORD BUD DEEGAN, ADAM ANSELL, BOB WYNNE, ROBERT JIMENEZR, REX MUNGER, ALEX WALD, GEOFF GREENE, BIGTOE, GLENN L BARR, SUSANNAH MOSHER, RICHARD J FROST, ROXY B MONTOYA, MARIE MEIER, KEN STEIERT, CHRIS TIRRI, JULIE ZARATE, LIZ CARROLL, DAVID MCNELEY, GP WATSON, CHAD SCHERES, CHAD SCHERES, STEVE PARKER, HOLLY MARDIS, CHRIS TOPHER, CANDY WEIL, JIM OWENS, PAIGE PUMPHREY, DESIGN NURD DIEGO GOMEZ

Just shipped my creation for the Tura Satana Art Show Tribute in Palm Springs

"Splatter"

19" x 13"
sold
 

Click here to see what is still available

Opening Night: Saturday Sept 15th 2012

7:30pm-10:30pm

M Modern Gallery
2500 N. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs CA 922