Faux Copper Vase #545

Aug 30, 2016

Piece #545 – Sycamore, Copper, Calcite – 5.5″ by 9.5″

This vase is made from sycamore, copper leaf and calcite crystals. The vase was turned on the lathe with a wall thickness of 3/8″. The ivy leaves and stems were cut about 1/8″ deep into the wood using a high speed dental drill. Once all of the wood inside the stems and leaves was removed the calcite crystal was inlaid, sanded and polished thru 4000 grit sandpaper. Next I removed all of the wood from the vase all around the stems and ivy down 1/16″ deep. This left the stems and leaves inlay 1/16″ proud (above) the entire surface of the vase. I sanded the vase to 180 grit. Using my Dremel and a carbide Steel, ball shaped bit I cut in the dimples on the surface of the vase around the stems and ivy. This is called stippling.

I then sealed the entire surface of the vase with dewaxed shellac and let that cure for a couple of days. Next I painted the stippled wood around the stems and ivy with flat black spray paint and let that cure overnight. On top of that I put down a coat of hard table varnish and let that dry several days.

Following the proper procedures I gilded the stippled surface around the stems and ivy leaves using copper leaf. See my YouTube video on the gilding process. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKY2Rj1snJs

I let the copper leaf cure about a week. Next I caused the copper to tarnish using David Mark’s chemical technique leaving a colorful patina on the copper. After curing the copper leaf several days I applied 6 coats of Gloss Spray Lacquer covering the entire vase, stems, ivy and copper leaf all. Lastly I buffed the entire vase with tripoli and white diamond jewelers polish bringing it to a nice luster. Beeswax was then buffed on using a Beal polishing wheel on my lathe.

The separate base stand is a piece of oak burl. I carved it to look like tight, twisted, ivy vines. I then air brushed it with transparent latex paint. It also received the gloss spray on lacquer finish.

Monarchs and Dogwoods #540

Jul 15, 2016

Piece #540 – Ash & Calcite – 4.5″ by 8.5″

This is my intro to Multimedia 3D art. Composed of wood, stone, and acrylic paint. This piece has been in the works for about a year. The Monarch Butterfly near the top is made of yellow calcite crystals inlaid into the wood. The wood on the backside of the calcite was removed so the butterfly wings are transparent. The small Monarch below and to the right is made of wood and acrylic. It sets proud of the vase. The other Monarchs are relief carved and air brushed with acrylic paint. All of the Dogwood blossoms are relief carved and painted with acrylics. The base is a separate piece and supports and gives balance to the vase.

transparent calcite crystals