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Freeform Sculpture

Project by Roger posted 1301 days ago 2197 views 22 times favorited 38 comments Add to Favorites Watch

I used a piece of Manzanita for this and guess that it took around 300 hours to complete. I did have the shapeing and sanding complete once and tried tung oil as a finish and it turned a crappy brown. I hated it and figured after about 200 hours I couldn’t stop there so started grinding and sanding again. After a consultation with Sam Maloof on what finish to use that would keep it as red as possible (He suggested using only a dark tinted wax) it was time to make a base. For the base I used a piece of MDO (medium density overlay) that I had laying around shaped it sanded it laqured it sanded it rubbed it out polished and waxed it. After it was completed I brought it back over to Sam’s for critque and he did like it but suggested that the shape of the base might pull your eye away and distract from the sculpture (see the over saturated picture #2). This is exactly what my Mother had said when she had seen it, however I was sick and tired of working on this by now and left it as is. Maybe if I find a nice oval piece of marble someday i’ll change it, let me know your opinon on the base change or not?


38 comments so far

View Mark A. DeCou's profile

Mark A. DeCou

1537 posts in 1300 days


posted 1300 days ago

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

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1298 days ago

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.

View caocian's profile

caocian

28 posts in 1281 days


posted 1278 days ago

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

View superbabe621's profile

superbabe621

8 posts in 1268 days


posted 1268 days ago

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. :)

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1254 days ago

Thanks for the complements Caocian & Superbabe621

View darryl's profile

darryl

1392 posts in 1221 days


posted 1221 days ago

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

View DaneA's profile

DaneA

3 posts in 1211 days


posted 1211 days ago

Keep the base …keep the base. Sweeet

-- DaneA

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4572 posts in 1205 days


posted 1155 days ago

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!

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7314 posts in 1141 days


posted 1116 days ago

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

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1115 days ago

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

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7314 posts in 1141 days


posted 1113 days ago

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

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1113 days ago

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.

View Obi's profile

Obi

2191 posts in 1131 days


posted 1111 days ago

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/

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1111 days ago

Well said, thanks for the complement.

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1071 days


posted 1059 days ago

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/

View Roger's profile

Roger

37 posts in 1301 days


posted 1059 days ago

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.

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3789 posts in 1209 days


posted 961 days ago

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

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14158 posts in 1055 days


posted 961 days ago

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)

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4447 posts in 972 days


posted 955 days ago

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

This is art at it’s finest.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Roger Strautman's profile

Roger Strautman

534 posts in 1028 days


posted 920 days ago

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"

View Herb's profile

Herb

12 posts in 858 days


posted 844 days ago

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

View mot's profile

mot

4902 posts in 931 days


posted 830 days ago

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)

View Kerux's profile

Kerux

512 posts in 778 days


posted 774 days ago

That is just amazing work. My jaw just dropped!

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

View Blake's profile

Blake

2755 posts in 769 days


posted 750 days ago

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

View Jiri Parkman's profile

Jiri Parkman

603 posts in 707 days


posted 669 days ago

Beautiful sculpture.

-- Jiri

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 769 days


posted 669 days ago

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.

View NDwoodworker's profile

NDwoodworker

48 posts in 629 days


posted 629 days ago

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

View ATWilliams's profile

ATWilliams

99 posts in 629 days


posted 628 days ago

Absolutly mind blowing ,,,,, loved it …

-- A. T. Williams Creation's

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2481 posts in 662 days


posted 628 days ago

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.

View KennethBirdine's profile

KennethBirdine

106 posts in 612 days


posted 611 days ago

Roger,

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

Kenneth

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

View Cookie's profile

Cookie

44 posts in 625 days


posted 606 days ago

Very nice work, I love this

-- Doris Oakwood Ga

View Les Hastings's profile

Les Hastings

953 posts in 667 days


posted 584 days ago

Awesome!

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

View savannah505's profile

savannah505

978 posts in 480 days


posted 479 days ago

VEEEEEEEERY COOOOOOL, love your style, keep it up.

-- Dan Wiggins

View Yettiman's profile

Yettiman

153 posts in 632 days


posted 470 days ago

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

View mmh's profile

mmh

1385 posts in 616 days


posted 392 days ago

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

View knurlesnburls's profile

knurlesnburls

7 posts in 314 days


posted 309 days ago

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

posted 46 days ago

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

View OhVlyArtisan's profile (online now)

OhVlyArtisan

158 posts in 15 days


posted 3 days ago

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".

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