gmane.culture.stone

upcoming world jade symposium

Brian Matheson — 2012-05-25T23:00:45

well i don't say too much at all on this list, but for all those who are
interested,  there is an online jade carving symposium followed by a tour
of the works. This means that the jade will be sent to you and you can
carve in the comfort of your own studio. This event is a not for profit
association, and something that i have put together over the last couple of
years to create awareness in the marketplace and to try assist and inspire
the artists careers, as i know personally, it is a real challenge.
here is my little blurb : )


*The most important thing for an artist, is making art, *

....................the second, perhaps, is having someone else appreciate it.



Participation in this year's *2012 World Jade Symposium** *guarantees you
both... and more! Connect and carve with your peers from around the world in
this prestigious online competition.  If you choose, you and your finished
jade artwork can also be part of in the multi-venue exhibition and
conference series.



*$300 registration includes:*

* *

   Approximately 1/2 kg of beautiful Chinese Jade

   A presentation of you and your artwork online at www.jadesymposium.com

   Exposure in many newspapers, magazines, TV and online articles.

   A chance to win some of the $8000 in prize money.

   Exposure in a global tour, lectures and conferences at galleries,
museums and universities.

   If you want, the symposium will even help you find an appropriate
buyerfor your
finished art work.

   Being connected, sharing and learning with other jade carvers around the
world.





Following the win of the 2011 World Jade Symposium, Chris Dobranski, is now
a VIP guest at a Russian and German gemstone carving exhibition. His
finished work, "Dreamspeaker" is now being showcased at the most
prestigious gemstone museums and galleries in those countries!



*A**dditions to the competition:*

*The Judges:*



Russell Beck - Master Jade carver and curator, New Zealand

Chris Dobranski - Master carver and 2011 winner, Canada

Patrick Dreher - Master gemstone carver, association leader, Germany

Glenn Leher - Master gemstone carver USA

Huang he Zhong - Master Jade carver and historian, China



These renowned judges, from these 5 countries, will ensure the integrity of
the competition.

*The Tour:*

*California Jade Festival*, October 5, 6, 7

*Jade* *and art Gallery*, Richmond October 20th - November 30

*Jade*, Vancouver December 1

*Tucson Gem and Mineral Show *Jan 16 - Feb 14

Other dates are currently being confirmed in USA, Beijing, Berlin and New
Zealand.

* *

*The community:*

*The World Jade Symposium* is a not for profit association, and as such,
your participation ensures the benefit and development of your community
into the future.



Please register to ensure your place in the event, shipping the jade block
to you and that your profile and past works can be represented on the
website as early as possible.



To learn more and register:

http://www.jadesymposium.com/register.html



Regards,

Brian Matheson

World Jade Symposium

New large sculpture

Jeff Watson — 2012-05-25T21:55:26

Hi All,
Check out this link to my website to see the evolution of a large sculpture in Gabbro, completed yesterday 24th May after two days of 8 hours each.

http://www.sculpturejeffwatson.com/gallery.html

Scroll down through the sculpture photos until you come to "Oeuvres Monumentales" there you will see "Sentier Art et Nature Trail"…20 photos illustrate the evolution of the work.
The sculpture is part of an Art sand Nature trail in the small village of Saint-Hippolyte in the Laurentians region of Québec just one hour's drive North from Montréal.
The work is about 165 cm high and wide and is carved from Gabbro which is a plutonic version of Basalt.
I was given small grant to contribute to the Art and Nature trail because I will be the invited artist at a symposium in Saint-Hippolyte "MontagneArt" 17th to 19th August this year.

Comments/critiques welcome
Jeff



Jeff ( Guv) Watson
150, bord de l'Eau Est,
Longueuil, Qc. J4H 1A1
jeff.watson-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg< at >public.gmane.org
www.sculpturejeffwatson.com
(450) 674-6222 Phone
(514) 755-9476 Mobile

Water and Stone

Jeffrey Arnett — 2012-05-19T14:44:34

Stone Folks-
I have a question about alabaster that your collective wisdom may have an answer for.  I inadvertently left a small  piece of polished alabaster in water for a couple of days and it came out with a rough surface, as if it had absorbed the water (like the wood I carved in the old days) and this had raised the grain of the stone.  So I'm wondering if this might be a way to raise the "grain" of some varieties of stone (alabaster in particular) to aid in the sanding process.  As an old wood carver, I used to do this intentionally.

Any insights would be appreciated.
Jeff

oops! website with link

Frank Shopen — 2012-05-14T16:27:26

I've been working on my new website.  I'd love feedback.  I'm worried about
 functionality.  I'm wondering if it doesn't work well on certain browsers.
 I don't believe I've posted this to this list before, apologies if I have.
 Thanks in advance for taking time.
http://www.fshopen.portfoliobox.net/gallery/33520/shopen-art

My new website

Frank Shopen — 2012-05-14T15:04:53

I've been working on my new website.  I'd love feedback.  I'm worried about
 functionality.  I'm wondering if it doesn't work well on certain browsers.
 I don't believe I've posted this to this list before, apologies if I have.
 Thanks in advance for taking time.

Stone place

2012-05-12T18:59:28

As some of you know I spent most of the winter in the hospital.  While there I was put in an induced coma and the anesthesia used had the capability of giving the patient partial memory loss. I seem to gave all sorts of memory problems since returning home and one of them is the name of where I bought some stone a few years back.  It's in western Canada, and by George it just came to me.  Well so much for that!  Just thought I'd mention that I'm carving again and feeling really good about it.

Jeff's shop

Gary Grossman — 2012-05-11T20:29:17

Wow, I have seen Jeff's studio and I have to say that he's really cleaned
up his act.  That Dougan influence is powerful! <g>

Marble for Military Gravestones

Dan Atcheson — 2012-05-09T17:49:50

This is interesting: http://www.imdb.com/video/cbs/vi826318105/

Foredom 5240

Musgrove, Richard (PIRSA-SARDI — 2012-05-05T09:31:27

Hi Don
I'm looking at buying a Foredom 5240 from our local woodworking place. Have done a fair bit of reading around and looks to be good gear. Would be interested in your thoughts (and anybody else's) on the usefulness of this for anything up to and including marble. I have the usual tools for stock removal etc and the quarter inch shanked diamond bits for the Foredom. Plan to do a series of pieces for an exhibition in August.
Many thanks ,in advance, :) Cheers, Richard

___________________
From: Don Dougan [dondougan.sculptor-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w< at >public.gmane.org]
Sent: Wednesday, 2 May 2012 11:10 AM
To: stone-uGLqWuYN4qMgsBAKwltoeQ< at >public.gmane.org
Subject: [stone] Re: An old subject?

Can't say I've had to deal with it personally (as an artist who works
primarily in abstracted imagery), though as a gallery director I certainly
have . . . read the following . . .
One of our faculty members was scheduled to have an exhibit in a gallery
space which is 'owned'/'overseen' by a another faculty member (NOT an
artist) who is a bit of a prude.  The artist exhibiting (knowing the
predilections of the 'owner') chose to make the artwork dealing with the
human figure (nude) abstracted and stylized so it was not quite so
'obvious' what  the subject matter was. A little bit of 'give' on both
parts (the two faculty members have to work with each other on a daily
basis) made for a really strong exhibit and did not 'ruffle the feathers'
of the person officially 'in charge'.  The show was still very powerful and
a strong statement of the artist's expression, but the 'owner' of the space
also felt like she had set some limits which were adhered-to by the artist.
The 'figure' was still very obvious to the eye of the viewer, though there
was enough 'abstraction' that the viewer could not declare 'that is obscene
pubic hair!' when they looked at the imagery.

Can't say this solution will work in every situation, but all when there is
a little bit of give-and-take both parts usually feel they have 'won'
something, so their integrity stays intact.  Life is about compromise --
isn't it?  We can never have ALL we want. (kinda piggish to expect so,
isn't it?)

Cheers,
Don

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An old subject?

Frank Shopen — 2012-05-01T14:46:00

I'm wondering if this list, somewhere in its archives has tackled the
problem of displaying and explaining nude art in a reserved and
conservative place like where I live in Kansas.  I'd love to read up on
strategies to get through that minefield when the time comes that I start
displaying my figurative art.  I can't remember if this has been asked in
the past by myself or others, so any direction is much appreciated.

Fw: perspective

marg gurr — 2012-04-30T14:16:44

Sorry.  Forgot to change the format.

From: marggurr-PkbjNfxxIARBDgjK7y7TUQ< at >public.gmane.org
Sent: Monday, April 30, 2012 10:15 AM
To: stone-uGLqWuYN4qMgsBAKwltoeQ< at >public.gmane.org
Subject: Re: perspective

Don, google images of scrolled paper and find a simple one that shows the 
paper curling into a small scroll at the top edge for example.  Now look at 
the different planes for cues as to depth and think of how you might show 
those in a charcoal drawing...darker shading for the inner parts of the 
scroll, maybe a lighter ridge right at the top just before the page starts 
to fold behind itself.  You’re probably so accustomed to making that 3D 
transition that this seems infantile, however it’s been a recurring theme 
for me when I try to work from a sketch.  What I did at first was draw lines 
on the sketch to identify the different depth planes...outermost being the 
page itself, second deepest, the part of the scroll that had wrapped a full 
360 degrees, and the deepest point being the area that holds that curve 
behind the face of the front sheet.  Done that way, all you get is a 3D 
version of the image...but in order to actually create a 3D image you have 
to look into the page rather than on the page...sort of from back to front, 
the deepest point, then carve forward relief style to create the actual 
maquette 3D effect.  Does that help at all?  I’m probably just brain-dead or 
something, but I’ve seen other people fall prey to this and wonder why it 
isn’t how they envisioned things.  I could probably sculpt you a cage inside 
a cage inside a cage with a ball in it...but not from a sketch.  I’ll be 
able to show my example when this project fully comes together in about a 
week.

marg

where is everyone?

marg gurr — 2012-04-30T12:55:29

Here we go again into one of those dead zones where people are out there...I 
know you are because I see your comments on FB, but nothing seems to be 
happening on this list.  COME BACK...I get nervous when you guys go dormant. 
I’m stuck in the world of local “street art” for at least another month 
attempting to make a 75 lb. really ugly metal chair that is a replica of one 
in the Stephen Leacock Museum look like wicker.  I should qualify that.  The 
chair is one of 50 made by a local metal worker who did a fantastic job, but 
apparently Mr. Leacock didn’t have much by way of taste when it came to 
furnishings.  It’s very much a MAN’s chair complete with two huge storage 
areas on each arm, presumably allowing him to sit there for hours and have 
everything he needed within literal arm’s reach.  Since I’m not a huge fan 
of his work, I dug around and discovered that in addition to his humourist 
writings, he also played a role in the development of the radio and film 
activities of the times...much more to my liking.  That said, I’m a bit off 
the beaten track with the “theme”, but at least it will be different!  And 
Deb, it has become a yearly thing, but I also enjoy doing it...at least I 
enjoy the bitching parts.

I discovered something yesterday that that might be helpful to those who are 
new(ish) to stone.  It will sound trite to the rest of you, but it was one 
of those moments for me that was truly definitive, even if it’s s 
embarrassing to admit.  I’m really not a good sketcher at all.  I can 
replicate a drawing reasonably, and I understand the issues relevant to 
perspective on paper. I don’t seem to have nearly the problems when it comes 
to carving, but I seem to struggle when it comes to translating curves and 
angles from a sketch to a 3D model of any kind.  My AH HAA moment came when 
I attempted to introduce a 3D aspect into the design of the aforementioned 
chair.  I wanted to take the image of a piece of paper coming out of an 
antique typewriter and give a 3D effect to the top of the page in foam-core. 
I searched for images that were good, re-sketched them and set to work to 
create that nice scrolled look.  What I ended up with was the perfect 
replica of the picture in 3D, BUT IT WAS NOT A 3D replication of the way the 
actual page would look.  It was simply a dimensional replication of the 
sketch.  Does that make sense.?..it’s hard to explain.   We’re only talking 
about roughly a 1.5 depth off the surface...just enough to bring it to life 
a bit as I’d also planned to do with a couple other aspects of the design. 
As I stated, this has never been a problem for me with stone, but I’ve come 
to realize that the transition from flat image to having a portion of that 
image rise off the surface involves a whole different set of skills.  It’s a 
head-game.  When the image takes on 3D aspects, it’s no longer “on” the 
page, so to speak, and the transition from from flat to 3D affects not only 
the raised parts but also the perspective of the flat image.  In this case I 
also wanted to create the same effect for one side of the bell of an old 
gramophone which seemed simple enough until I realized that if one side was 
raised by a couple of inches, the other side logically had to be recessed by 
the same amount...which changed the whole image.  That area of transition 
isn’t as easy as it looks...you can’t just carve a hunk of something and 
slap it on. I am greatly humbled, but the wiser for my naivety.

The other thing that’s been on my mind which I may have mentioned before is 
cave drawings.  It’s never made much sense to me that historical timelines 
indicate a huge leap in skills related to perspective between the primitive 
style in most cave drawings and the actual more realistic portrayals during 
the next stage as we know it.  This doesn’t make sense to me for a couple of 
reasons.  First, the overall skills at the time were largely focused on 
survival...gathering food while not becoming food.  Who had time for 
fiddling on the cave walls?  Secondly, it’s not that the human eye wasn’t 
capable of seeing as we do today, and some of the cave drawings will attest 
to the fact that rather sophisticated images DO exist, but the bulk fall 
into that stick-figure primitive category.  It occurred to me that while mom 
and dad were out hunting and gathering, the kids could easily have been left 
home in the care of an elderly family member day after day.  Perhaps the 
primitive renderings were done by the kids and really not reflective of the 
true abilities of the adults.  Who has time to hack away at a “wall paper” 
after a long day simply struggling to survive.  Some of the animal 
pictorials didn’t even exist by the time humans were established, but no 
doubt stories and vivid imaginations were alive and well.  For my money, the 
leap from stick-figures to fully dimensional representations is too drastic 
and profound to simply be the result of evolutionary development alone.  I 
really think it was largely a matter of opportunity.

OK.  Those are my thoughts for the day.  What’s going on with the rest of 
you?  I intended to post the equally embarrassing pictures of the process of 
the piece that I was soliciting advice for earlier...the face that the stone 
was too colourful to finish in the conventional manner, but I accidentally 
sent them to Clive without making copies, so I’m hoping he’ll send them back 
to me...?  Again, not allot to be proud of except that it was a great 
learning experience and reality check that I’m willing to share despite my 
ego.  As Gary would say, <grin>.

marg

Sculptures Pacific magazine

Jeff Watson — 2012-04-19T14:25:25

This is an ezine by sculptors for sculptors and well worth registering to receive it. It costs nothing and the articles and photos are good. They rely on advertising to support the mag and advertising depend on readership .so register by going to
www.sculpturespacific.com
And scroll down to register.
Jeff
Jeff ( Guv) Watson
150, bord de l'Eau Est,
Longueuil, Qc. J4H 1A1
jeff.watson-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg< at >public.gmane.org
www.sculpturejeffwatson.com
(450) 674-6222 Phone
(514) 755-9476 Mobile

Hey guys

David Lee — 2012-04-11T03:34:23

Hey guys,just find this forum,I am live on quarry field ,glad to know you here:-)

new video of my work

Lee Jordan art — 2012-04-10T16:44:02

good day all

I just uploaded a video of me working to youtube
http://youtu.be/GeA6GQ7oowI

it is a piece that I just finished last week. I set my little digital  
camera to take one frame every 60 seconds and compiled them in imovie.  
the piece keeps getting blown out with white but that is the problem  
with the range of light and dark across the studio.
the cloudy look is actually dust being generated by cutting with my  
angle grinder.

since I shot the entire thing in one minute increments I actually know  
about how long it took to make. I did miss an hour or two, but the  
frames come to 16 1/2 hours.

I put a music track of a punk band my daughter was in for backing, but  
it is loud so be careful.

I open and close with shots of the finished piece. it's alabaster, 30"  
h x 14 x 12.

in related news I am in a show opening in long beach ca in may. if any  
are interested let me know and I'll send you an invite.

also, my work has recently been used in the tv shows up all night and  
two and a half men.

thanks
Lee Jordan
Sculptor
leejordanart.com

website

Frank Shopen — 2012-04-05T04:10:12

I recently put together a new website, it's a free one and I generally like
it but the images are static and one has to scroll through them.  I would
like to find a fairly easy website that has flash templates for galleries.
Any ideas or feedback?

http://www.fshopen.portfoliobox.net

Seasons in Stone - photos

Jeff Watson — 2012-04-03T19:53:30

Hi All,
Back from Atlanta where the expo is on until April 17th. A few pics to give a sense of the show and its participants
Jeff


http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002334589906

Jeff ( Guv) Watson
150, bord de l'Eau Est,
Longueuil, Qc. J4H 1A1
jeff.watson-rieW9WUcm8FFJ04o6PK0Fg< at >public.gmane.org
www.sculpturejeffwatson.com
(450) 674-6222 Phone
(514) 755-9476 Mobile

Doodles From Lincolnshire

Eilidh Fridlington — 2012-04-01T10:44:56

I've just uploaded some photos to Flickr, a tattoo and a fire surround. 
The fire surround isn't finished yet, usual delays in getting stone from 
a quarry.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/eilidh_f/

books on laying granite setts

Michael Shepherd — 2012-03-26T14:24:31

All,
Is there a book on how to lay the granite "setts" which most of us
incorrectly (myself included) call cobblestones. Setts are the small square
blocks of granite that you see laid in town squares all over Europe. They
are typically set in a fan like pattern and are surrounded by sand or other
material.

Thanks again,

Mike

Collaborative stone sculpture exhibit

Don Dougan — 2012-03-25T18:11:05

Hey all,
Just thought you might be interested in seeing an exhibit Jeff Watson and
myself just finished putting together, "Seasons in Stone".

The show opens tomorrow, and the artist reception is scheduled for this
coming Wednesday evening (March 28) for those of you in the Atlanta area.

Jeff and his bride are coming from down from Canada and will be in
attendance, as well as myself and my wife if you want to meet us and see
the sculptures in person.

For those of you who can't make it here is a preview:

http://www.dondougan.com/Seasons_in_Stone.html

The exhibit is up through April 16, and it will hopefully be traveling down
to Florida and to other parts in the Southeast before it heads up to
MontrÃ©al (Montreal if the list software garbles the accented spelling).

Cheers,
Don

Don Dougan
www.dondougan.com

Sylacauga Marble Festival

Jim Laney — 2012-03-24T17:21:08

Just to let everyone know: Sylacauga Alabama is holding it's 4th Annual "Magic of Marble" Festival April 10-21 2012. If you can stay 4 days to carve on site, they will provide stone from local quarry. Free accommodations at American Legion hall (cots & showers) or motel rooms for $40/night. 
Bring tools and desire to have a good time with fellow stone carvers including guest demonstrator(s) from Italy. I've enjoyed it every year and can recommend it. 

For more info email magicofmarble-Re5JQEeQqe9fmgfxC/sS/w< at >public.gmane.org
 
______________________________________________________________
 
Jim Laney 
the Rock Farm Studio
256.565.3112