Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"My Door" 2012 - New Piece up for Auction

This piece is in the show "The Art of Communication – 100 Artist Show" at the Mary Lou Zeek Gallery in Salem, OR. The auction starts February 2nd and ends March 2nd. Here is your chance to own a piece of my work at a very special price. 
***Note - This piece has since sold.***

Another artist and I exchanged quotations. My piece was based on the quote for Kahlil Gibran "When I wrote on my door: 'Leave your traditions outside, Before you come in,' Not a soul dared to visit me or open my door."

At first I wanted to do something other than the obvious - but after weeks of thinking about it, I thought it wouldn't make sense not to do a man that opens his door.

All the pieces in the show had to be less than 12" x12", so I started building the door and the window to fit into that space. I brushed the wood for the door with a wire brush to bring out the texture of the wood. I also designed everything to be a little wacky - slightly skewed, out of plumb. Only the top part of the door opens - I wanted to hide the mechanisms behind the bottom part.


The head, sculpted from polymer clay. I did look at a couple of pictures of Mr. Gibran, but I was not going for an exact likeness.

The wall and the window. I created a stucco texture using drywall mud mixed with paint. I love this look, I might have to do it again.

My paint finish - I love how this came out.

The finished piece - 12" x 12" x 4 1/2"

Detail of the door.

As the door opens, he leans over to check outside.

A closer shot.

The movie...

Behind the scenes......

This piece is a real step forward in my progression as an artist, and may be a sign of things to come......

Thanks for looking!

tom

6 comments:

  1. Love everything that you do! And what a great assignment. Mary Lou Zeek gallery is top shelf in my book. Congrats.

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  2. Wow!! really awesome automata thanks for share!

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  3. I love that you show the backs of your pieces, the inner workings - gears, cams, motors - and the progression from idea to completed work. It's inspirational. Thanks!

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  4. This wonderful! I'm glad to have this introduction to your work.

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  5. I love the pace and mood of this piece. Also, the Dutch door is an excellent solution to this particular design problem for a variety of reasons: it keeps the figure isolated even as he opens the door as well as simplifies the action. Congratulations on another great piece!

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  6. Thanks all!
    @J.E. You're absolutely right, the bottom part of the door hides a lot.
    tom

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