Sketching New Woodcuts in the Sun Shine.
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Woodworking Projects
2011 Woodworking Projects
Custom Walnut frame, Shadowbox stlye, for customer 2011
Detail of a prototype custom futon for client 2011
New Woodworking Projects: Frames, Chain Guards and Rain Barrel Stands!
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- Frame with Map of Early Manhattan, (Image sent from happy client!)
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- New Chain Guard
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- Close up of Maple rays on the steam bent top piece
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- Stand shown holding a 75 gallon barrel
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- Raw and stained maple and walnut inlay
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- Cedar Rain Barrel Stand unfinished $125
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- Cedar rain barrel stand finished $150
Rain Barrels such as the one pictured can be found @ EcoWise
New Woodcut Prints
Balena, Woodcut on Rives BFK, 9" x 36", Vincent Colvin,
After many long hours at the bench hook I finally got this series completed! Or so I thought after waiting a week for the oil based ink to dry, I realize they are better proofs, time to go back in and make the transitions between the pieces smoother.
The three prints connect when you put them all next to one another. The pieces are inspired by imagery from early maps and engravings which depicted whales. The first image is based on the 1562 Map of America by Diego Gutierrez and the third from a 1577 engraving by Dutch artist Jan Wierix. The second is a merging of the two.
The verdict…. Woodcuts are awesome why have I not been doing this forever?
The woodcuts are cut with Japanese Moku Hanga woodblock tools and are hand printed with archival oil based ink. The prints are 9″ x 12″ each and 9″ x 36″ together. 4 sets of proofs in varying paper colors gray, light grey, cream, and the tan in these pics, on Rives BFK, and Somerset. Proofs are $25 each or $60 for the set. Visit my frame section and you could get a whole set maple framed, float mounted and ready to hang for an extra $150. To frame one print would be an extra $90. Fill the form out at the bottom of the page to order!
Final edition will be around $50 each or $120 for the set, also in varying paper colors on Rives BFK, perhaps some Chine-collé also.
Woodcuts In Progress
Back in July, during my month long stay in VA I took up wood cutting. Since that time I have been working on a series of prints that are based off of 1592 spanish map engravings of sea monsters. Through the series I’ll be progressively cutting prints to look more and more like what creatures those bewildering 1592 sea monsters might actually be. The pictures above are all working proofs.
I am also working on a collection of small prints that I am creating En plein air of different locations around the Austin area. My first was Krause springs, working vigorously for an hour on site and enjoying some cold water swimming! You can see it in the pictures as the smaller print in the top right corner. This collection will either be bound as a book or possibly printed as one large print made up of however many blocks I decide is enough.
So far it has been a lot of fun and I am learning wood cutting fast. I am a bit disappointed that while I learned a lot from Dan Miller, that I was too busy painting and etching during graduate school to take advantage of his woodcut classes. Anyway, I am enjoying the process now and its fun to teach yourself something new after 6+ years of art schooling.
My Latest Projects
My latest projects:
- A handmade canoe paddle to enjoy all the beautiful waterways of Texas Hill Country. Made of epoxy laminated Ash and Spanish Cedar, the finished product will be glassed for strength and to bring out the natural character in the wood.
- A new painting which draws from Turner and Albert Pinkham Ryder. I am continuing to expand on my narratives about exploration and the sea while pushing ideas about interdisciplinary mediums. This paper on panel piece will have many different layers from a grisaille underpainting, oil painting surface, encaustic, printmaking techniques and many glazes both encaustic and old master.
Keep an eye on later posts to see how they progress!
Custom Wood Fenders
The first of many future Roadie wooden fender sets, custom made for Philadelphia Artist, Gabrielle Lavin and her bike “Big Red”!
The fenders are steam bent maple with cherry inlay, w/ custom fitted/adapted SKS braces/bridges.
“Every day someone approaches me to say how lovely they are! I absolutely adore them, so thanks again.” -Gabby
The V and M Sweethearts Tandem
A fun bike I restored for our wedding. Took it in a fun lowrider direction and made custom tandem seating, wooden fenders, and a wooden chain guard. This was so much fun to ride after the ceremony. We rode it down a 2 mile downhill to the reception!! It was also recently at the Philly Works show at UPENN for Design Philadelphia.
Custom Longbows from last winter!!
The original bow
#6
This was the final result of six different bows that I’ve made. Each one got progressively more sophisticated as my carving skills got honed. Only 2 survived, but this one is a real gem. Shoots great, a lot of fun, 65lbs of force over 68″ of wood. Its made of heat-box laminated Hickory, Ipe (Brazilian Walnut), and Bamboo for the backing. It is the single most difficult thing I have ever made. I carved this out of wood blanks with classic spoke shaves and hand planes. After lot of sanding and 4 bows exploding in my face I made something thats held together. Really rewarding process. This bow took at least 80 hours to make.
Custom Bookcases 2009
the benthos 
