Tilt Front Laptop Computer Desk with Carved Front Artwork Inspired by the late-Birger Sandzen

Several have asked about what I am working on now, so I thought I would take a minute and post some progress photos.

My current work is a Kitchen Shelving and Desk system in Birch to match the styling of the exisiting cabinets built in the early 1960’s. Seemed like a fairly straight forward project for a past customer, and I like working for them. They “discovered” me, and that “Rates” in my book, regardless of what they want me to do.

During the planning stages while we were measuring and brainstorming the design, I threw out the concept of adding a tilt down desk for a laptop station with a carving on the front on the desk.

The customer liked the idea, so I asked her what she wanted on the front. She said, “something original you draw inspired by Birger Sandzen’s work, like the lamp you did for us…..”

Here is a the link to the lamp page if you are interested. The shade with the hammered copper work of a Tree/Farmhouse/Silo/Hill was the work she was referring to.
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/41

That was all that needed to be said. This customer is always creative and trusting, and enjoys letting me run with an idea, which is the receipe for get the most creativity and hard work out of me. She also gave me a check to get started which was more than I asked for. Another key to a successful commission.

So, I headed straight home and started putting thoughts together on what to build. My dad built a carved front desk when I was a kid, and I have wanted to try that myself. Sometime, I hope to add a blog with his work shown, it is truly amazing, and never ceases to inspire me, despite growing up in the midst of it.

For the artwork, I decided to draw my own original artwork of a Kansas Flinthills Prairie Scene with a Stone House homestead. For styling inspiration, I looked to a Kansas Artist, the Late-Birger Sandzen. I grew up admiring his painting work, as he seems to have captured the heart of the Kansas Prairie like no other has before, or since. He was also friends with my grandparents, so his name came up often while I was growing up. His painting work is mostly impressionistic landscapes, were he was able to capture the “Kansas South Wind”, and it’s affect on everything it touches. I tried to use this styling concept in laying out the Homestead Scene. His paintings, woodcut prints, and linoleum prints have become very collectible, getting several “spots” on the Antique Roadshow over the years. People here in Kansas love his work, and easily recognize it. So, I hope others will see his inspiration in my carving work this time.

I’ll post more during the project posting, but this short note allows me to show the progress. I am ready to build the top bookcase that sits on the desk, and then I will start the desk chair. This desk is now complete, except for the finish, and the “copper stays” that I am hammering to hold the tilt-front flat in it’s working position.

Thanks for reading,

Mark

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Desk Concept Sketch for the Bid. (still don’t have Sketchup ready to utilize, but getting there)

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Desk Concept Art Drawing for the Bid.

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Full sized artwork completed on paper. From this point, I transfer the drawing to the Birch Panel with carbon paper, and start removing wood.

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Desk Art now carved in Wood:

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Desk with Tilt Front Panel installed

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Another shot with lower light, using shadows to show the depth of the relief carving.

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UPDATE 10-8-2007

Since Mark Mazzo asked, I’ve added a photo showing the panel and all of the tools I used to create it.

Hitachi Pluge Router
Bosch Colt Router
Ryobi Trim Router
Pfingst Flexishaft Carver
Dremel Hand tool A
Demel Hand tool B
An assortment of Dremel Bits
Palm Handcarving Tools
Japanese made single Beveled Edge Carving Knife
Swiss Made Carving Gouge
Stanley 1/2” wide Chisel
Black & Decker Drill motor
Klingspor Sanding Mop
Tracing Paper
Carbon Paper
Pencil

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If you would like to read more about this project, please see the following blogs:
1) http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2148
2) http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2169
3) http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/decoustudio/blog/2163

(This writing, photos, drawings, design, and sketches, are copyrighted by M.A. DeCou 10-5-2007, any use of this material is restricted without the express written authorization of the Author. Thanks for your help.)

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com