Work Continues

Work on the Garden Boat commission continues. Things ebb and flow, some days I get a lot done others not so much. It's hot in the shop and I need to take frequent breaks to keep my self going. Right now things are beginning to get really exciting. After completing much of the frames for the boats I am in the creative mode of building. It's free-er and less restrictive as I add on fins and ribs and other elements. I am almost finished with one of the six footers and well into one of the four footers. By early next week I will have one each of the 2, 4 and 6 footers and they will be good (role) models for the rest of the family of boats.

A four footer in progress.

Fin detail

Cutting into that lovely fresh piece of 11 gauge stainless sheet was nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. My wood fin templates are working well. Since stainless is so hard and bitch to grind I want the plasma cuts to be as perfect as possible. I have found that I actually like the added hardness as it hold edges much better and it less likely to over-grinding. 

A six footer, in progress, next to a completed 2+ footer.

Last weekend was spent on the road doing the 10 hour (each way) drive back and forth from Ormond Beach to pick up my latest show. It was a very nice show and very nice people who ran it. However, in the future I know that unless I can get covered for my travel I will not be doing an exhibition. Too expensive. I will be asking a lot more pointed questions in the future about sales as well. Just because a curator says that there is a "major possibility of sales" doesn't mean a hoot as I am finding out.


This weekend I am happy to be home all weekend! I will be in the shops all weekend long and will get a lot of work accomplished!

And the Work Continues...

Here are some more pictures of the Garden Boat sculptures in progress in the shop. Work goes well. I am still working on some engineering with the bearings but have finally figured out a system and did some weight testing yesterday. So far it is all working perfect! It has been depressingly hot in the shop, right up at 100F so I am working slow and taking breaks. This weekend I will spend my time on the road as I do the long drive to pick up my last show in Florida, spend the night at the first cheap motel I can find and the head home Sunday. Blah! 

Beautiful (and expensive) 11 gauge sheet of stainless steel

One of the smaller Garden Boats, still needs some finishing 

Larger in progress boat and smaller boat piled on bearing assembly mock-up for weight testing

Mock-up of bearing assembly