Freeform Sculpture

This is nice work, after doing a lot of free form work myself, I can easily see why the hours added up for you. If I had not read Sam’s comments on the large base, I probably would never have thought of it, that is why he is “The Living Master” (my words). This stylized piece reminds me of another artist who’s work I admire, J. Christopher White. www.jchristopherwhite.com

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

Thanks for the comments. When I was sculpting the project I had never heard of Mr. White but after seeing his book that is what I was trying to get with the finish. I love the glass like look he gets.

Beautiful work. I actually quite like the base (but I bow to Sam’s comments). Must be a wonderful thing to be able to get that kind of feedback from a real master.

Great work.

Dennis

This piece left me speechless (and that rarely ever happens). It’s got a classic & sophisticated look and is very elegant. Hint: Also doubles as a defensive weapon in case of a B&E. Keep it in an easy to reach area; ie. on your night stand. :)

Thanks for the complements Caocian & Superbabe621

I know I’m no Sam Maloof, but I like the base. It’s darkness contrasts nicely with the sculpture.

and all I can say is WOW!

I just signed up for Lumberjocks today and this is the first piece I got to take a look at. Simply amazing. I look forward to seeing more work of yours and others.

-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com

Keep the base …keep the base. Sweeet

-- DaneA

VERY NICE WORK AND I’M GLAD YOU HAD THE PATIENCE TO PUT IN 300 HRS OF WORK INTO IT. THANKS FOR THE INSPIRATION!!

-- Jesus is Lord!

I’m sorry for the offhand remark I made about Sam Maloof. After doing some reading I feel really stupid, this guy wrote the book, did’nt he? The Sam and and Alfreda Foundation is a noble and worthy cause and must help many people. And you’ve worked with him? I’m not knowledgable enough to even comment. I just know I like your work. Mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Mike, No problem don’t even worry about it I’m glad you like my work, I’ll shoot you a e-mail with a new full size picture recently taken. Take care Roger

Roger, you mention the sculpture is made from used manzanita, I checked with the woodsource and they hadn’t heard of it. Is it a plastic or some other medium. I like what you can do with it. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

It should of said I used Manzanita. But you can find Manzanita on e-bay the one thing about it is it’s protected in California where I live so we have to get it from Mexico. It’s a small shrub/bush.

my opinion … keep the base. Sam would have probably made a different base, and I would have used a framing hammer. That’s where each artist’s “artistic Genius” plays a part. We all can’t be Sam Maloof, but it’s a beautiful work.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

Well said, thanks for the complement.

Roger, you do something with wood that I’ve never been able to achieve. Unless the photographs lie, you finishing techniques leave your pieces looking absolutely smooth and blemish free. The just beg to be touched. Could you give us more detail on how this is accomplished?

Love your work!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

I try to have patience and go throught the grits; on this particular piece I probably went to maybe a MicroMesh #3200 which is probably overkill but I’ve came this far why not a little more. Manzanita is a very dense wood so it will shine at this stage, but then I think I burnished it with a flexable shaft and a felt bob charged with Jewelers rough or Tripoli (I forget which one). Followed by a dark colored wax that I buffed out and thats it. I was happy with the result and it has stayed looking good only rewaxing it once or twice in the last coupl of years. Thanks for the complement and if you need the name of the wax let me know I’ll go look in the garage but any type would probably work.

When I first started on this site I saw this piece a lot more. I’ve always admired it. The quality of your work has inspired me and I hope to see more of your projects in the future. You are in a class all your own here.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

well said, Dennis. “A class of your own” and therefore a style of your own and an EYE of your own.

My first thought when pondering the keep the base or not question was to think of it as a photo. How does it affect the eye. For me my eye sees the whole sculpture and then it sees the base (which in my opinion is part of the sculpture and reflects the blackness on the underside of the bottom sculpture shapes). The eye then follows up through the sculpture and when reaching the end gets drawn back to the base to start the process all over again.
It keeps me involved and keeps the sculpture active.

It’s simply beautiful and enticing.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Purdeful. Wow, I like this’n! Great job.

This is art at it’s finest.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

It has been well said by all here but I have to say this is a very beautiful piece of abstract artwork. Now I will have to give this a try. Thanks for sharing.

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

Man; really nice. A true piece of art. It is absolutely beautiful. The base is in keeping with the piece and from my eye, nothing could distract from the piece—it’s like… wow.

-- herbc6306

That’s just beautiful. Really wonderful to look at. Thanks!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

That is just amazing work. My jaw just dropped!

-- http://inhisgrip1.blogspot.com/

Amazing that you are able to take something as stiff as wood and shape it into such a fluid thing like fire. This is definitely one of my favorites.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Beautiful sculpture.

-- Jiri

Another one that I am glad got pulled from the archives so I get to see it. Very well done. Your patience was surely rewarded.

This is amazing, it was a good choice keeping it red with the wax, I like the base, I don’t think any thing could take away from the sculpture.

-- Stuart, North Dakota

Absolutly mind blowing ,,,,, loved it …

-- A. T. Williams Creation's

wow. i can’t believe that that is made out of wood. and 300 hours to complete. its like my dad says. fine carpentry takes time. so that diffidently applies to carving too. its such a beautiful piece.

Roger,

I love this sculpture. Its like a tribal tatoo in wood. Very nice work.

Kenneth

-- http://www.kennethbirdine.com/

Very nice work, I love this

-- Doris Oakwood Ga

Awesome!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

VEEEEEEEERY COOOOOOL, love your style, keep it up.

-- Dan Wiggins

Hi Roger,

I am not creative enough to comment on the base other than to say for me, it works.

You have created a piece of Art here that works even as a photo, THe actual piece must be awesome. Would love to have a hi res piccy for my workroom, if you even feel like posting it.

If not I’ll just keep loging on to LJ’s :)

Thanks for the post, very inspirational

-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot

Extraordinary piece! I love your curves and use of negative space. The points are extremely well done too.

As for the base, I agree about the concern of it taking away the focal point from the main piece. Although I can appreciate the elegant curves that are in both the Manzanita and the base, I don’t really like the synthetic look of the base. I think the base should be of a more natural origin. Maybe an oval, slightly domed (1/2”-1” high) base in very black granite, marble or ebony. A high polished natural substance with a tight grain/texture so not to deter from the wood grain of the sculpture, but yet to continue the earthy origins of the medium. The domed or raised base will elevate the sculpture to continue the floating, flying sensation. Otherwise it is truly a lovely and exceptional sculpture.

It must be such a priveledge to know Mr. Maloof. I would love to meet such a Master. I fell in love with his rocker at an exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in Washington, DC. and after a 3 year wait, received one of his rockers done in spalted fiddleback maple. Please tell him it is being enjoyed!

I also love working with Manzanita. I have made a snakehead cane out of a gnarley piece of root and I’ve got several other unusual designs in the making. The base for my Wood Lover’s Fabrege’ Egg is made of Manzanita burl. Please refer to my “projects”.

What’s your next project?

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

WOW, this got my attention right away. I absolutely love flames and how there is no end to the variety of shapes one can use. I actually draw my flames almost exactly like you have with this peice! I’ve never thought of actually sculpting something like this. What tools did you use to begin? I’d like to try something like this now. Thank you for the inspiration!

-- Simon, BC

WOW, this piece is stunning… deserving of being in the lobby of a 7 star hotel… no less!!! The glass like finish on the base looks terific, I would not change a thing, the base accents the piece very well… Spending 300 hours on one project is inspiring… wish I had more time (and skill of course) to devote to something like this… If you are really not 100% happy with it, please don’t hesitate to ship it up North, it would look great in my home… Keep up the great work, looking forward to seeing more of you fantastic creations…
Wisty

Wow I REALLY love this piece. FANTANSTIC! I think you concept for the base is right on . The polished black really contrasts well and sets the manzanita off. Mr. Maloof’s comments make a lot of sense, especially since he is one of the all time masters. Maybe a bse like yours but more closely matches the shape of the bottom of the sculpture – with =out the points. Just my 2 cents, I’m certainly not in your class much less Sam Maloof’s.

By the way – do you sell your word? Any gallery representation? Your sculpture are certainly works I could live with and never get tired of studying. That is if I could afford it.

Truely masterful work!

Doug

-- God grant me the serenity to accept "design changes" which I can not "fix".