Handmade Picture Frame

Just completed a handmade picture frame made in cherry wood with mitered bridle joints.  All the joints were cut with hand tools based on videos by Paul Sellers.  The print is of Ichiro Suzuki which my brother did and gave to me.  He is one of my favorite ballplayers.  It is print #1.

Werewolf Plywood Yard Art for Halloween

I added to our Halloween plywood yard art this year by making a Werewolf.  I saw the pattern idea in the Winfield Collection and did something similar.  I used 1/4" underlayment plywood so it is a little flimsy but it made it really easy to cut out.

Screen Printing

Here are some shirts I did this weekend.  I made up a Freddy's BBQ Joint from House of Cards vector graphic in Inkscape.  I have 2 screens for the red and black.  I used the magnet registration idea from cyclesurgeon on YouTube and it worked well.  For the white on navy, I used Green Galaxy Comet white ink.  It is not plastisol but water based ink and it worked great.  I printed 1 layer, lifted up the screen on Speedball hinges, then flash dried the print with a heat gun on #5 setting for a few minutes.  Then I printed over top of the first print.  Using the screen on hinges ensures the print with register perfectly.  I never had used screen on hinge before but I would never use without now.  They work great!  I also used spray tack adhesive so the shirt stayed in place on the platen.  If the shirt moves after a print then it is almost impossible to register again, even with hinges on the screen frame.

Plywood Yard Art

It has been a very long time since my last post, so I will try to catch up on things I have done this year. One new thing I started this year was to make plywood yard art. I became interested in it from my brother in law. I made some skeletons and a zombie for Halloween. Then I made Peanuts characters skating on a pond from "A Charlie Brown Christmas". I also made a velociraptor which I put a big Santa hat on. It is fun. My Black and Decker jig saw gave out last month and I replaced it with a Bosch jigsaw. The difference was like night and day. The Bosch jigsaw is expensive, but almost a must have to anyone who cuts patterns out of large pieces of wood. I plan to do Greg Heffley from "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" next.

Back to Pencil Drawing

This is a pencil drawing of the late George Harrison that I started last year which I worked on during lunch times at work. I had in my desk drawer and pulled it out occasionally. It was not coming out like I hoped so I put it away. Two weeks ago I saw it and decided to finish it. I have learned more about seeing value shapes but I still have much more to learn. I recently came across an artist named JD Hillberry. I really like the detail that he captures in pencil and charcoal. I ordered his book and pencil set. I hope to improve the realism in my drawings. It will take lots of practice, but I am enjoying it. I just need to get over the resistance to just sitting down and drawing.

Pencil Drawings

I started doing pencil drawings in early 2008 after reading books by Betty Edwards and Lee Hammond. I use the 1/2" or 1" grid method to transfer the image. This has really helped. For more of my pencil drawings, you can view my portfolio on Art Bistro.

My ArtBistro Page

My brother Gib is a professional graphic artist and his work is tremendous. To see more of his work, please visit his portfolio here:
Gib's ArtBistro Page

Basement Mural

This is my first attempt at painting a large wall mural. I used acrylic paint. I used brushes and an airbrush. I was thinking about doing this since the summer of 2008. I finally decided to do during my holiday vacation week at the end of 2008. It took me about 1 month to complete. I used the grid method to transfer the small image to a large 4' wide by 3" high image. My son James really loves Star Wars and so do I. I really liked this image of Yoda, so I thought it would look good on the basement playroom wall.

One thing I really had to overcome on this project was procrastination. I used a blank monthly calendar and worked a little each day. After I completed I would make off the calendar with a red "X". After I got started, I kept it going to not break the chain. Once I got painting, the time just went very quickly. When I start drawing or painting, it is like entering another world. I recommend art to anyone whether you can draw or not. There are so many great resources on the internet to help get you started or see what others are doing.

I made my first video for YouTube that shows the progression from bare wall to finished mural.