Jay's Guitar Studio

Here's a nice sign done recently for Jay, a local guitar player and instructor.

The design had to pass review by the local Historic Commission for appropriateness in color, layout, and technique.

The guitar is approx. 110% life size, mixed materials including wood, HDU, copper, stainless steel (strings), enamels, and aluminum leaf. Mounted via wrought iron brackets.

Jay's New Business Card

Designed using the original artwork created for the sign.

LAMBERT'S FARM MARKET

The sign is up and lookin' pretty good.
The chalkboard will be used to advertise specials.

This was a fun build!

Some Assembly Required

Almost there

Continuing the antiquing process

Dry brushing some brights onto the high spots.

Finished applique

Dub's

My son, Steve, came home for Christmas :) .
While he was here, we did a quick, but cute little project for one of his friends, a mechanic, in New York.
.
I carved the letters, Steve did pretty much everything else.

Here, he carves the wrench that will hang below the sign panel.


3/8" studs were glued into the carving, and copper ferrules were added for spacing.


A bit of paint...



We did'nt have time to get all the detail paint finished, so Steve brought it all back to NY to finish it there. Hope his friend likes his new sign!

Having Steve at the shop this week really made my holiday complete!

Antiquing the Rooster Appliques

The carvings are colorful, but lack the feeling of dimension that they had before they were painted. So a couple more steps are needed to bring out the detail.

Applying a brown/black antiquing glaze

Working quickly before glaze begins to set



Wiping off

Touching up

After glazing

Music Break!

It's a couple days after Christmas, and the shop is in high spirits.
Today, my old band mate Mark dropped by to entertain us with his ukulele.


He's a drummer (and a good one), but Mark also plays a mean uke.
He looks like a natural when he puts on that pineapple shirt of his!

I just had to grab a harp and join in...

It Was a Red Letter Day

Putting a 23 carat border on the letters, all 40 of 'em.