Quartersawn White Oak framed Live OAK tile

Gorgeous work Dan. Do you ever do multiples of the same tile with your molds. It is an interesting technique staining the stoneware with wood stain as opposed to glazing. Have you ever attempted salt firing your stoneware? The detail of your frame is amazing and a nice compliment to the tile. Thanks for sharing, I always enjoy your art.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

Very nice Dan. As always your work is excelant right down to the small details.

-- Glenn, New Mexico

Another fine work of art, Dan. You truly have mastered and apply the Arts and Crafts theology in your work.
Thanks for the post.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Dan, I am drawn to your projects every time I see a new post. Beautiful creation.

-- http://ragtimewoodwork.blogspot.com/

Beautiful! Thanks for the sharing the info, I’m toying with making some tiles. A lot of detail work in your tile & the frame, but the effort is well worth it.

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6453794

Dan, I really likr the 3-D effect of this one. It’s like you are looking through a mineshaft at the tree outside.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Very beautiful work, Dan!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Dan: Another great work of art. How deep is the frame. I guess that the inner ieces are almost square in cross section.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

this is beautiful!

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

Dan;

Your work never ceases to amaze me.

Very artistic!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Dan:

Great art!

I hope you sell your pieces through arts & crafts shows or at galleries.
Let us know where they can be found.

My wife has a collection of mounted tiles from various artists.
It would be nice to add one of yours to her collection.

And, thank you for the inspiration.
I’ve got some Rookwood tiles and plenty of old qswo in my shop, esp. bourbon barrel parts and scrap.
Hmm, what shall I do?

Many thanks for sharing your art.

-- Randy, Rustic Artisan, a family tradition. (No PM's - auto-deleted.) - "I am a seeker, not a follower."

Dan, I love the look. I`m going to write down the finishing process and
try it out.
Thanks for posting.

-- ''Carry on my wayward son''

You’re a real artist Dan I take inspiration from your work thanks.Could you imagime a room where the walls were made up of these tiles stunning anyway keep em coming Dan I watch with enthusiasm,Regards Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

hello everyone. Thanks for the great feedback.

making a plaster cast / mold of my wood carvings allow me to make multiple tiles. Life of the mold depends on detail loss. Some tiles get better with mold age. Details become smoother and worn. Defects such as flaking in the mold can enhance or ruin the appearance as well. As a rule of thumb a mold is good for 60 to 75 tiles. Also if a mold gets worn, more detail can be added back into the mold, by direct carving of the plaster. I have never tried salt glaze myself, but love the way it looks. To salt glaze, salts are added to kiln during the end of the firing process and it coats everything in the kiln. I use kiln shelves in a horizontal (front load) fashion, so salting the whole kiln would be a problem,

Plan for my next batch of tiles, will work on extreme texture glazes to add more visual interest. Got some glaze recipes from a famous potter in New Zealand that I want to try.

The frame in this posting is a good design to use up shorts and offcuts. Even long thin pieces.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

I wonder if you could toughen the plaster by a coat of thinned epoxy, or maybe something like wood hardener???

-- Fred, Springfield, Ma

molded plaster draws the moisture out of the clay. In a couple hours the clay shrinks enough to fall out of the mold. ..about a half dozen tiles is all the plaster mold is good-for … before it must dry out again.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Gorgeous work Dan!

Have you ever used a map gas torch to darken the grain before staining? How did you like the results?

I’ve heard a few people recommend it to darken some of the curl to a more dramatic coloration.

-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.

Great job!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

Thanks Callum and Chardt. Below are photos of most recent completed project.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Excellent art work Dan. Thanks for sharing & thanks for the tips.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Very creative and original , Nice work Dan !!!

-- John in Belgrave ,(Slideshow http://cid-69bce320c6d8b119.spaces.live.com/ (Website) http://www.extremebirdhouse.com

Thanks Guys

Couple more photos. This time with flash. Finished a Clearing tile this weekend. Will post as a project when I get better photos

CLICK TO ENLARGE

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

Nice Work Dan

-- Jim, Kentucky

thanks JIM and everyone else !

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

nice, not seen anything like this before!

-- Ben Bull, Oak Designs - http://www.oak-coffee-tables.com