This week saw the very first mobile wood shop project. Typically I work on projects in the afternoons after normal days of work, except this week. At my shop they have been having problems with some underground electrical wires throughout the whole building, which if I haven't said yet is an old navy shipyard that happens to be nowhere near water. Needless to say they have been shutting off the power for the last few nights hence the reason this week I went mobile. Luckily enough for me some good friends let me work on this project in their artist studio.
I originally started this project in my shop but the real inspiration and creativity came from the artist studio I was in. As a woodworker the most common thing I get asked to refinish are tables. The main culprit is water rings and stains. As a solution to the problem I wanted to make some coasters that would not only do it's job but also act as a conversation piece.
I started with a very figured piece of Yacushapana wood from Peru and cut them in 5 inch squares. I trimmed the corners to make octagons and then made the base that would hold them awaiting use. The holder is made from Yacushapana and Bolivian Rosewood dowels. I wanted to also have my first carving piece for this project and originally drew out a Celtic design on one side of the coaster. The inspiration for the object I actually chose came from the artists inside the studio I was working in.
The Celtic design was a little too boring for me and I was stuck without ideas of something else. So I picked up an old magazine from the 80's they had lying around and told them first object I see It would go on the pieces. First figure was an owl. I said an owl it is. I looked up owls and came up with this representation of a Peruvian screech owl. The reason why it was perfect is two of the artists had owl paintings they did and considering I was in their studio I figured I will give it a go as well.
One object that saved so much time in these pieces that I did not have at the shop was graphite transfer paper. Using this I transferred the design to all four coasters. I used a combination of small carving knives and a Dremel to carve out the owl in each piece. I finished all the pieces with boiled linseed oil and then some clear lacquer to protect itself from water rings and stains.
A cool side part about the holder is when the coasters are inside the owl's eyes just peer around the edges. Thanks to Tyler, Tristan, and Trent for letting me use their space, and the great ideas for this project.
This project will be in the gallery showing at the end of the 52 weeks