"Keep Climbing" - 2018 - A Gift from a Husband to His Wife on Her Birthday

This is another commission given as a special gift for a very special occasion. I have to say I really love making these special pieces for people. There are so many unique and personal details that are included in these kinds of artwork. And this piece is no exception. The husband contacted me about doing a piece for and about his wife. He had many kind, and endearing things to say about her, and how, when faced with obstacles, she has always been able to overcome her many challenges. And even though I never met her, I was impressed by what I heard. This always gives me extra drive - to try to make a piece as great as the person it depicts.

I won't get into details but this piece is about overcoming adversities. "Keep Climbing!" is her motto - and each of the details have a lot of meaning to the wife, husband, and family.

Here is "Keep Climbing"....

The piece measures 13" x 16" x 8.5".

The 'making of' images.....

Her body. 

I knew it was going to take some extra effort for the figure to raise the ladder, so I made this pulley as big as I could. It helped.  There's a front and back cover that will fill out the figure, but also to protect this part of the mechanism.

The brass rod (lever), the polyester line (that goes through the screw eye), and the spring enable her head to turn. The line pulls her head left and the spring pulls it back to the right. 

Her body and her outfit, ready to be assembled. The two lines will go through her legs. 

One last look at the mechanism in her torso - before the cover is put on and her shirt is sewn up.

Her head, sculpted from polymer clay.

The mechanism.....

The cams and levers in place. The cams travel counter-clockwise, (anti-clockwise). 

Another shot.

This is the gearing down of the crank handle, and the ratchet, that prevents the crank from being turned the wrong way. I used salvaged rears from various sources. 

All the mechanical parts. The cams are not cut at this point - but that's how they start out, as circles. 

Here they are cut, and ready to be inserted into the piece. The one on the left is to raise the ladder. 

One last image - carving the basswood mountain. Fun.

A quick clip showing how the piece works, (I need to put together a full movie).

Thanks for looking!

tom