Jim Kelso Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 So more or less done and dusted on this one. I call it Kinship of Cherished Ephemerals. My aim with this work was to evoke the mystery and fleeting beauty around the relationship of seemingly unremarkable bits of nature. Thoreau wrote much about the value of looking closely at our home ground for inspiration: “The discoveries which we make abroad are special and particular; those which we make at home are general*and significant. The further off, the nearer the surface. The nearer home, the deeper.” [Journal, September 7, 1851] Overall length is 13 inches. Vera wood with copper, shibuichi, shakudo and 18k gold. Here is a link to a gallery with more photos: http://www.jimkelso.com/albums/kinship/album/ And a tutorial of how the feather was made: http://www.jimkelso.com/tutorials/feathertutorial.html The wood-carving resolved into an area on one end suggestive of weathered wood or sculpted stone in a stream-bed, or perhaps both, and on the other end as a small area of moving water flowing between mossy patches. Rather than be too literal I would rather leave interpretation to the imagination of the viewer. The metalwork also evolved very differently than usual, the end result being the third generation of concept. Initially I had thought of a larger piece of metalwork but decided that small details would be better as the wood is so powerful. I chose to portray specimens from the animal, vegetable and mineral worlds to illustrate the harmony and relationship of elements (Classical or Asian mode). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken R Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Jim, AMAZING WORK! Incredible design, flawless workmanship. Thank you, for the tutorial and sharing your work with us. Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted January 15, 2014 Report Share Posted January 15, 2014 Jim as always amazing work. I still would love to study under you but life is as it is. I wish that you would write a book. If you do I would buy it. What books would you recommend if I were going to to start doing metal work similar to the work that you do? by the way it does look like a feather floating on a rocky stream. i can just see the water lapping around the stones just before the feather becomes water loged. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelson Lepine Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Neat idea and masterful execution! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 Thanks very much Ken, Dan and Nelson! Dan there is so much information available these days on the net on technique, more-so than in books. I would rather spend my time making work, as I enter the home-stretch of my career, but I appreciate your comments. My website and blog have a lot of information about technique as well as motivation. http://jimkelso.com/journal/ Thanks again. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Posted January 16, 2014 Report Share Posted January 16, 2014 oh i agree learned just about everything i know on the net but its just not the same as a good solid book to collect dust and pull down when i cant remember something. or to grab to use as an example when im trying to explain what i know but dont know how to describe. i was showing your feather to a workmate and we were talking about a creek we would play in as kids. i can just about feel the sun shining down through the trees as we spashing through the creek jumping from stone to stone climbing down the "giant waterfall". that waterfall i now see in a different light as an adult. I can remember laying on a large boulder that was in the middle of the creek trying to catch minnows in my hands over the edge of the rock. thanks for the warm memories jim i think this is my favorite of all your work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David G Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Fantastic work, love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Twilbeck Posted January 17, 2014 Report Share Posted January 17, 2014 Amazing work,, love the little touches that make this an amazing Art. Will you share with me about Vera wood. I have not seen it before and I like the color and the grain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSS Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Super work Jim, Love the fluidity moving though the middle and contrast of the slightly harder edges to the right. Metal work stunning too. One of those pieces you want to touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 19, 2014 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thanks very much guys. Ed, Vera is a very interesting and unusual wood. It is a cousin of lignum vitae and is super dense(does not float) and infused with a fragrant oil. It has a strange interlocked grain which makes it very challenging to carve as the grain direction constantly changes. When freshly cut or worked it is mostly gold and yellow, but when polished, after a few days much of it turns green with some gold tones remaining. Cannot be glued effectively and I doubt there is any finish that will stick to it, but no matter as it takes a beautiful high polish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Twilbeck Posted January 19, 2014 Report Share Posted January 19, 2014 Thanks Jim ,, I will have to try some. Most of the time only polish and wax my carvings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezz El Sherbiny Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Mr Kelso, First few minutes of the movie "Men In Black" - the rookie ranger is mesmerized by seeing something his mind was totally unprepared for, and all he could was stare and blabber .. "what - what - what" ... Now I understand how he must have felt. This is a fantastic sculpture ... Best regards Ezz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted December 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2014 Thanks very much Ezz. You should see what's under the stone....... ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B.K. Henderson-Winnie Posted December 9, 2014 Report Share Posted December 9, 2014 I am awestruck- you are one of my art-heroes, Mr. Kelso. Thanks for sharing your images and insights here, and thanks even more for your work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted December 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2014 Thanks very much B.K.! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stefan L Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 lovely work n the good tutorial is just as important, thanx for sharing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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