Working on a CNC machine.

This opens up another way to be creative and express

what I envision.

After making a rubber mold and plaster mother mold of a section of bark, I poured the wax and it turned out great.  (wax on right)

Now to sprue it up and finish casting in bronze.  This will be an element  in one of my new sculptures.

Was in Memphis again to get some technical advice about oil sand  casting for my bronze work. In the past I have always used the ceramic shell, lost wax process. Now experimenting with oil sand, bonded sand and investment casting.

The current show in the gallery is well worth the trip. If you have never been to this Museum, you need to add it to your short list of things to see and do.

A hidden Gem!

Went to Christy Cut Stone in Tennessee to pick up some limestone and have some other custom bases made.

What a great place, they can do just about anything.

I think the keystones will be a nice element along with my steel and bronze keyhole and key sculptures.

The weather is what it should have been in London. Cold and wet.

Working on 5 new pieces using Walnut, Hickory, Bass, and Cherry along with the steel keyhole.

Might try using a laser to burn a design into the wood. On the computer doing layout this weekend.

It was a great way to end 2014 with a trip to England and Scotland for the Holidays.

Staying in the heart of London gave us the opportunity to see a lot in a few days.

Taking many trips on the riverThames was a great way to see the city

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Of course seeing as many museums as possible was the plan. Tate Britain, Tate Modern, John Soane, The Courtauld Gallery were some highlights.  Seeing Trafalgar Square, St Paul’s, Saint Martin-in-the-Fields, and Covent Garden during the holidays was special.

A little let down with Hyde Park, maybe to much anticipation.

As art goes we saw the good, the bad and the ugly.

Here is Richard Tuttle’s piece at the Tate Modern.

8th paper octagonal 1970

Took the fast train to Dover.

Was well worth it. Wish we had more time to see the castle and more of the city. Had a very nice cab driver (Dave), who gave us a grand tour of the city and a lot of insight into the area.

We were very lucky, with most places closed we could really only drive around and see the scenery and we had great weather!

The Hunterian Art Gallery was open and we saw the works of  Charles Rennie Mackintosh (architect, designer, and artist)and his wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh (artist, designer). Their “Glasgow Style” may have influenced Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Klimt.

Then went to Helensburgh to see the Hill House that was one of Charles ‘s most famous homes he designed.

With the goal of heading up to Ft. Williams accomplished we had to head back to Glasgow and the scenic route was beautiful.

I did have a chance to taste a few whiskey’s and was surprised by the spicy, smokey, peat flavors of the Islay single malts. My favorite was the Highland Park 12 year old.

I also was the only one in our party that liked the Black Pudding and the Haggis. I credit the chef at the Blythswood Square Hotel.