| Project by Roger | posted 849 days ago | 1455 views | 8 times favorited | 34 comments | ![]() |
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?
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

























34 comments so far
Mark DeCou
home | projects | blog
1264 posts in 848 days
posted 848 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 - Kansas Flinthill's Artisan
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 846 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.
caocian
home | projects | blog
22 posts in 829 days
posted 826 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
superbabe621
home | projects | blog
8 posts in 816 days
posted 816 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. :)
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 803 days ago
Thanks for the complements Caocian & Superbabe621
darryl
home | projects | blog
783 posts in 769 days
posted 769 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.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
DaneA
home | projects | blog
3 posts in 759 days
posted 759 days ago
Keep the base …keep the base. Sweeet
-- DaneA
oscorner
home | projects | blog
4576 posts in 753 days
posted 704 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!
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
4011 posts in 689 days
posted 664 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. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 663 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
jockmike2
home | projects | blog
4011 posts in 689 days
posted 662 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. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 662 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.
Obi
home | projects | blog
2147 posts in 680 days
posted 660 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/
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 659 days ago
Well said, thanks for the complement.
Don
home | projects | blog
2586 posts in 619 days
posted 607 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.canterburybaptist.org/
Roger
home | projects | blog
37 posts in 849 days
posted 607 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.
dennis mitchell
home | projects | blog
2913 posts in 757 days
posted 509 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
MsDebbieP
home | projects | blog
11555 posts in 603 days
posted 509 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.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
PanamaJack
home | projects | blog
4453 posts in 520 days
posted 503 days ago
Purdeful. Wow, I like this’n! Great job.
This is art at it’s finest.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
Roger Strautman
home | projects | blog
488 posts in 576 days
posted 468 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"
Herb
home | projects | blog
11 posts in 407 days
posted 392 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
mot
home | projects | blog
4837 posts in 479 days
posted 379 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)
Kerux
home | projects | blog
279 posts in 326 days
posted 322 days ago
That is just amazing work. My jaw just dropped!
-- http://www.LanierandSons.com
Blake
home | projects | blog
1874 posts in 317 days
posted 298 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.
-- Dust collectors suck.
Jiri Parkman
home | projects | blog
552 posts in 255 days
posted 217 days ago
Beautiful sculpture.
-- Jiri
rikkor
home | projects | blog
7112 posts in 317 days
posted 217 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.
-- Maplewood, MN
NDwoodworker
home | projects | blog
48 posts in 177 days
posted 177 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
ATWilliams
home | projects | blog
98 posts in 178 days
posted 177 days ago
Absolutly mind blowing ,,,,, loved it …
-- A. T. Williams Creation's
teenagewoodworker
home | projects | blog
1932 posts in 211 days
posted 176 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.
KennethBirdine
home | projects | blog
27 posts in 161 days
posted 159 days ago
Roger,
I love this sculpture. Its like a tribal tatoo in wood. Very nice work.
Kenneth
-- http://www.kennethbirdine.com/
Cookie
home | projects | blog
25 posts in 173 days
posted 155 days ago
Very nice work, I love this
-- Doris Oakwood Ga
Les Hastings
home | projects | blog
408 posts in 216 days
posted 133 days ago
Awesome!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
savannah505
home | projects | blog
64 posts in 29 days
posted 28 days ago
VEEEEEEEERY COOOOOOL, love your style, keep it up.
-- Dan Wiggins
Yettiman
home | projects | blog
108 posts in 180 days
posted 19 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