From The Sea

Multi-centre figure based on the work of Pablo Nemzoff. The figure is Phillipine Mahogany finished with shellac; the base Maple Burl finished with shellac and gun stock glaze to add a little brown. Overall height is 9".

Photo Details

Frank Van Atta

Registered: December 2009
Location: Green Valley, AZ
Posts: 308

10

Date: Thu February 18, 2010
Views: 884
Keywords: from sea

Comments

Bill Beck

Very effective with the title. Did you consider air brushing the base a sea color?

#1 Thu February 18, 2010 2:01am

Frank Van Atta

No, I didn't, but I wish I had - I think it's too late now because the gun stock glaze might prevent the color from taking properly. I was thinking of stringing some "seaweed" around the base of the figure but couldn't figure out how to do it that didn't look too garish. I finally settled on rubbing the light brown glaze into the sides of the burl and leaving the center spines natural. Unfortunately, the shellac darkened them just enough so that it is difficult to tell any difference in color between the sides and center.

#2 Thu February 18, 2010 2:23am

Robert Greene

Bob

I agree with Bill about the title. The title is an important component. It immediately directs the viewer to consider the emergence of the figure from frothing water which, I think, negates the need for adding any color. I really like this one, Frank.

#3 Thu February 18, 2010 4:21am

Frank Van Atta

Thanks, Bob. Frothing water was the effect I was trying for with the semi-pyramid shape with the burl horns cascading from the top down into one corner.

#4 Thu February 18, 2010 4:52am

Brendan McAreavy

Very attractive! I really like to see how people use burls to achieve an effect because I have some small pieces that I don't know what to do with so pieces like this help fire my imagination.

#5 Thu February 18, 2010 10:48am

Don Leydens

Don Leydens

Very cool piece, Frank! I like it a lot. I also like Bill's idea about the blue. Good job.
Don L.

#6 Thu February 18, 2010 1:36pm

Robert_Harper

Very nice. That would make a good submission to a question asked last year about turning a female form.

You could turn some shell forms to enforce the idea that it is from the sea or carve something that looks like seaweed. I think adding seaweed other than wood would take away from the lovely work.

My $0.02

Live long, love lots, and turn fast.

#7 Thu February 18, 2010 5:22pm

Frank Van Atta

Thanks, Don.

Robert Harper said: You could turn some shell forms to enforce the idea that it is from the sea or carve something that looks like seaweed. I think adding seaweed other than wood would take away from the lovely work.

I agree about the seaweed, which is why I never put any on it.

#8 Thu February 18, 2010 7:43pm

Makepeace

Leo Makepeace

Very nice and elegent Frank, really good idea.

Ruining lots of good wood to get a few average bits.

#9 Fri February 19, 2010 11:40pm

Frank Van Atta

Thanks, Leo.

#10 Sat February 20, 2010 1:55am