kentucky art

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Custom Gourd Lamps

While most of my work can be custom ordered anyways, the Sanders Lamp is a good example of a custom gourd lamp with a family name, word, or whatever your mind can come up with. Most of the time I’ll have the center piece, accompanied by symmetrical designs encompassing the remainder of the piece, sometimes with color and sometimes without. The bases are made from recycled trees, currently I’m using a maple tree that had to be removed from my yard. The lights are typically a candelabra base (think night light) that sits in a hole in the center of the base.

If you’d like to order one, just let me know. They are fully customizable and able to be personalized. Prices depend on size and amount of detail, so prices can are able to match needed budgets. Feel free to look at pictures of previous lamps I’ve created for inspiration.

Thank you 🙂

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Star Spangled

Memorial Day seems like a fitting day to share this piece. I’m so very thankful for all of those who have, and are currently making it possible for us to do the things that we enjoy, and live the lives that we choose to live. Thank you!

This is Star Spangled. Two carved stars, with carved and cutout stripes encompassing the gourd, created with the burning art of pyrography, all under a top of leaves.

This gourd will soon be available at the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea.

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Star Spangled 2015, photographed by Cheree Federico Photography

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Botanical Musings Art Show

Ok, this post is long overdue, but I’ve been a tad busy lately.

There’s a fantastic art show currently showing at Kaviar Forge & Gallery in Louisville, Kentucky, until July 11, 2015. I just happen to be one of fifty artists in this show, with one of my favorite pyrography gourds, Fall Entangled. This is a bit significant for my work, since this is the first time my work has been on display outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky.

As for the gourd itself, it is one of my top five favorite pieces I’ve ever created. I made it as one of five pieces submitted in my successful quest to become a Kentucky Crafted artist. It features my favorite leafy top style, with symmetrical patterns encircling the bottom. This happens to be a special gourd. It is one of five (I believe) gourds that I refer to as “The Accidentals.” In 2013, I grew gourds at my mother’s house in the country (with lots of help from her). When planting the seeds, we had many left over, and my wife threw many over into a nearby goat field. The magical part was that some seeds grew on an unused fence, resulting in five very beautiful gourds, accidently grown (somehow untouched by the goats).

If you find yourself in or around Louisville before July 11th, make sure you make plans to visit Kaviar Forge & Gallery, 1718 Frankfort Ave. Open 12-6 Monday – Friday, 12-4 Saturdays.

🙂

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Merlin Gillock

It’s time to meet Merlin!

Back in September 2014, a gentleman came into the gallery wondering what could be made out of a 4 foot slab of walnut, that was almost firewood. After explaining pyrography, he was intrigued. He mentioned that him and his wife like wizards. Since I can’t really draw people, I thought of collaborating with the great painter, Nick Mantlo-Coots. After I sanded and prepared the wood, Nick designed and drew Merlin. I then burned all of the features, and eventually finished him.

Merlin will be hanging out at Gallery 916 until March 21st. Go say hello 🙂

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Lamp Stand

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Some really cool things come out of necessity. I made the newest lamp for a special someone, but also wanted to enter it into the 2015 Celebration of the Arts show at the Kentucky Museum. While the lamp is a hanging lamp, I wanted a nice way to display, resulting in the lamp stand.

There are may firsts for me here, including concrete work, tile work (with broken glass), and grouting. The lamp stand is made from a full sized shepards hook, with a custom built and designed base. I poured concrete around the base of the hook, then applied broken glass using tile adhesive, and finally capped it off with grout work. The result is a 7 foot, 60 pound base, created to hold a 1 pound gourd lamp.

Check out the 2015 Celebration of the Arts show at the Kentucky Museum, on WKU’s campus in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to see Teddy’s Balloon, as well as many other great artworks from the Bowling Green area. Opening reception is Friday, March 6th at 7:30pm. Show runs until April 4, 2015.

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Olive Bushel gourd basket

Here’s a look at the 1st gourd completed in 2015, Olive Bushel.

Featuring four olive branch-inspired handles reaching out from under the
basket to come together peacefully above it all. The four branches also encompass patchwork-inspired patterns created with pyrography and cut-outs.

Enjoy 🙂

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Olive Bushel - 2015

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New Year, New Projects

2014 was another awesome year of learning, growth, and achievement. My main goal was becoming a Kentucky Crafted artist, which I’m honored to have achieved.

With the new year comes a time of new projects and some experimenting. So far I’ve started about 4 projects, and hopefully I’ll finish them eventually. Be on the lookout for a checkerboard, a wizard, and a cool lamp.

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"Merlin" in collaboration with Nick Mantlo-Coots

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2015

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Floral from Fire

Introducing Floral from Fire, my first hangable gourd art piece. This flowery creation was born from a need to create a piece that could hang, rather than sit like most of my other items, for Artworks “Dually Exposed show” at the Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, KY. I was partnered with a great photographer, Howard Margolis. Our showcase featured Mr. Margolis’ floral photo, and my pyrography gourd interpretation.

I hope you enjoy 🙂

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