Now that entries are closed, I want to share the story behind my entry into the pen and display contest.
This piece is called "Remembrances". I began putting the concept in place a few months ago when Ray Charles died. I could have called it "Ebony and Ivory" but that seems so cliché. The design is to evoke the starkness and the rough, edginess of the creative process through the Australian coolibah. The slice of burl used as the base represents the soothing of the soul as the piece is completed, it's edges undoubtedly to be smoothed by interpretation. Additional elements were added when I learned that my niece's first Christian songs were copyrighted and to be published. The cross pen clip was added as a tribute to her spirituality. The golden piano and bench were added to celebrate the 96th Psalm, "Sing to the Lord a new song". A music box was added by hand mortising out the back and bottom of the burl using a 1/4" drill bit to run a series of contiguous holes, then hand chiseling out the remainder. The Sankyo mechanism is set into the burl such that the weight of the pen keeps the music box turned off, while lifting the pen plays "The Sound of Music", by Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rogers.
This is your basic $1.50 slimline kit from my friend, Bill B. I did clear powder-coat the fittings for added durability. The cross clip and top are really for the PSI kit and were obtained through my friend Sheila at POC. The materials used include Coolibah burl from one of my newest friends Lee Tannenbaum, Pink Ivory from Fritz at Woodurninz, American Holly from the internet, Nigerian Ebony from POC and the custom center band is elephant ivory from a 1940's coat I purchased at the Salvation Army. Due to turning my own center band, I was able to widen the body of the pen. This allowed me the flexibility of duplicating one octave of a piano through a lamination inspired by Ed Davidson. Some of you may wonder what the Pres is doing with an entry in the Novice category, so I'll explain. This is the first time I've customized a pen kit (other than by taking liberties with body shape), my first custom center band, and my first laminate.
The set will be a Christmas gift to my niece, by way of the contributions of everyone mentioned above and by way of all of the rest of you who have inspired me beyond words. Thank you ALL so very much! [8D]
This piece is called "Remembrances". I began putting the concept in place a few months ago when Ray Charles died. I could have called it "Ebony and Ivory" but that seems so cliché. The design is to evoke the starkness and the rough, edginess of the creative process through the Australian coolibah. The slice of burl used as the base represents the soothing of the soul as the piece is completed, it's edges undoubtedly to be smoothed by interpretation. Additional elements were added when I learned that my niece's first Christian songs were copyrighted and to be published. The cross pen clip was added as a tribute to her spirituality. The golden piano and bench were added to celebrate the 96th Psalm, "Sing to the Lord a new song". A music box was added by hand mortising out the back and bottom of the burl using a 1/4" drill bit to run a series of contiguous holes, then hand chiseling out the remainder. The Sankyo mechanism is set into the burl such that the weight of the pen keeps the music box turned off, while lifting the pen plays "The Sound of Music", by Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rogers.
This is your basic $1.50 slimline kit from my friend, Bill B. I did clear powder-coat the fittings for added durability. The cross clip and top are really for the PSI kit and were obtained through my friend Sheila at POC. The materials used include Coolibah burl from one of my newest friends Lee Tannenbaum, Pink Ivory from Fritz at Woodurninz, American Holly from the internet, Nigerian Ebony from POC and the custom center band is elephant ivory from a 1940's coat I purchased at the Salvation Army. Due to turning my own center band, I was able to widen the body of the pen. This allowed me the flexibility of duplicating one octave of a piano through a lamination inspired by Ed Davidson. Some of you may wonder what the Pres is doing with an entry in the Novice category, so I'll explain. This is the first time I've customized a pen kit (other than by taking liberties with body shape), my first custom center band, and my first laminate.
The set will be a Christmas gift to my niece, by way of the contributions of everyone mentioned above and by way of all of the rest of you who have inspired me beyond words. Thank you ALL so very much! [8D]
