It is with much satisfaction that I am able to share my entry to the 2010 Single Letter Panel Swap. This is my first photo, I have shared with you since the accident. My piece is for Catherine Kennedy. She is an engraving artist, decorating all sorts of tools and other metal objects. I tried to tailor my panel to suit her interests. I would like to acknowledge three of our fellow soldiers for their input and inspiration, this was gleaned over the last several months and years. First, Sam Staffan, for coaching me about faux wood-graining (this background is poly-metal); Secondly, Mark Fair, for introducing me to metallic undercoats and finally Dan Sawatzky for his initial time on the phone and on this forum and SC. introducing many of us to the wonders of Magic Sculpt epoxy clay. Dan, as many of you know, teaches seminars for profit but has never held back information from us on these threads. The basic shield shape was cut from a flat piece of 1/4 thick PVC. I tacked the shield on it's vertical axis to the rounded side a steel garbage can then heated it slowly with a heat gun, gravity and gentle pressure took care of the controlled bend. this was my base for applying leaves and the letter. The shield and frame are painted with latex colors. Some are Modern Masters Metallics and pearlescents.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Very painstaking but VERY effective, Bob. NIce marbeling or lightning effects in the centre of the C. Great work! Thanks for the explanation. Did you consider trying to do it in HDU at all, even by hand?
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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WOW, Bob! That looks fabulous! Many thanks- esp. with all you've been dealing with!
-------------------- Catharine C. Kennedy CCK Graphics 1511 Route 28 Chatham Center, NY 12184 cck1620@taconic.net "Look at me, Look at me, Look at me now! I't's fun to have fun, But you have to know how!" Posts: 2173 | From: downtown Chatham Center, NY | Registered: Feb 2004
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Yes, Brother Pat that is some green. You should see it in the spring time. Do you see the little bit of white on the right-hand side of the panel peeking between the oak limbs? That is the State Capitol of Florida.
Stewey, I did not consider using HDU on this piece at all. Magic Sculpt was the best choice for this project. It was done over several months as my elbow healed. I had to pay special attention to two things which I think helped bring this together: 1. Not to over do the amount of dimension within the layout for it is so interesting that it can draw away our attention to what should be dominant the C; 2. watching the values(contrast) in the colors selected as well as the hues themselves to tie it together.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Great piece Bob! I have no doubt Cat will treasure it always!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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WOW......WOW again Bob, Most of all....I can see the thought that went into this. Can you show us the original "Sketch" Can you share the woodgrain steps.
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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Sorry John, no sketch, I worked slowly and thought this one out in my head. I simply vectored the letter and half a shield then reflected and joined. As for the wood-graining it came from a post at CSA where Sam Staffan showed some experiments using a spray bottle of water and artist's tube acrylics. He told me that the original inspiration for the technique came as a colaboration with Joe Crumley.
1) Paint a substrate with latex paints, I used a golden orange. Let dry. 2) Lay your panel flat and mist with water. 3) Mix a watery wash using the tube acrylics, float it on with a soft latex brush to suit your tastes. Leave in a flat position and allow to dry. 4) repeat steps 2 & 4 with different hues until satisfied. 5) Alter a cheap throw away bristle brush with a pair of scissors cut several gaps into the tip edges leaving hairs-gaps-hairs- gaps. use this brush to paint darker wood-grains on the misted wet surface. The working on wet allows the washes to have softer edges. 6) Coat with a gloss poly urethane. I used solvent based. I suppose this would help it endure moderate exterior exposure.
-------------------- Bob Sauls Sauls Signs & Designs Tallahassee, Fl
"Today I'll meet nice people and draw for them!" Posts: 765 | From: Tallahassee, Fl | Registered: Jun 2009
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Thanks Bob.....that's exactly how I paint woodgrain on large murals and walls!
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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-------------------- Judy Pate Signs By Judy Albany, Georgia USA 229-435-6824
Live simply...Love generously...Care deeply...Speak kindly...Leave the rest to God. Posts: 2621 | From: Albany,GA,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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