Ed McDonnell
Member
So here's the story behind my 9D pen that I entered in the Advanced Beautiful Pen contest. It was a 3D illusion executed in 3D. I suppose that could make it 6D pen, but 9D sounds better.
About 10 years ago my wife made a quilt that used what quilters call a "Baby Blocks" design.
I always liked 3D illusions. With this quilt hanging in our family room as a daily reminder, a couple years ago I finally decided to see what I could do with the design using inlays in a bowl I had turned. (Mahogany bowl with Cherry, Maple and Walnut inlay).
I thought it came out fairly decent. Now with the quilt and bowl as daily reminders, late last year I decided to see what I could do with the concept on a pen. This ultimately resulted in what I submitted for the Bash.
The pen is made from PR and it took 4 casts to complete it. The process is similar to other pens I've shown over the last year.
Cast white resin blank, turn to shape, carve, cast aquamarine transparent, turn to shape, carve, cast blue transparent, turn to shape, cast clear, turn to final shape and polish.....at least I think that's what I did. I used pearl effects in the resin to give it a shimmer. Here's a closeup.
Some of you may be thinking that this might have been Escher inspired. While I love the work of Escher and hope to someday do an original pen that would be inspired by his work, he was not the inspiration for the design. Years ago I saw some ancient greek mosaics (about 1100 BC) in the Pergamon museum (in what was then East Berlin). My memories of those mosaics were the true inspiration for what I pulled together here.
Except for the design on the cap finial. That's not something the ancient Greeks would recognize. However, any sailor worth his salt should recognize the design on the cap finial as a compass rose. So a compass rose that might have been found on a sailing vessel in the 1700s combined with a 3D illusion inspired by ancient greek mosaics. Since the ancient greeks didn't have pens, I guess I can be allowed a little artistic freedom in selecting my design elements for the pen.
So, that's my story.
Ed
About 10 years ago my wife made a quilt that used what quilters call a "Baby Blocks" design.
I always liked 3D illusions. With this quilt hanging in our family room as a daily reminder, a couple years ago I finally decided to see what I could do with the design using inlays in a bowl I had turned. (Mahogany bowl with Cherry, Maple and Walnut inlay).
I thought it came out fairly decent. Now with the quilt and bowl as daily reminders, late last year I decided to see what I could do with the concept on a pen. This ultimately resulted in what I submitted for the Bash.
The pen is made from PR and it took 4 casts to complete it. The process is similar to other pens I've shown over the last year.
Cast white resin blank, turn to shape, carve, cast aquamarine transparent, turn to shape, carve, cast blue transparent, turn to shape, cast clear, turn to final shape and polish.....at least I think that's what I did. I used pearl effects in the resin to give it a shimmer. Here's a closeup.
Some of you may be thinking that this might have been Escher inspired. While I love the work of Escher and hope to someday do an original pen that would be inspired by his work, he was not the inspiration for the design. Years ago I saw some ancient greek mosaics (about 1100 BC) in the Pergamon museum (in what was then East Berlin). My memories of those mosaics were the true inspiration for what I pulled together here.
Except for the design on the cap finial. That's not something the ancient Greeks would recognize. However, any sailor worth his salt should recognize the design on the cap finial as a compass rose. So a compass rose that might have been found on a sailing vessel in the 1700s combined with a 3D illusion inspired by ancient greek mosaics. Since the ancient greeks didn't have pens, I guess I can be allowed a little artistic freedom in selecting my design elements for the pen.
So, that's my story.
Ed
Have some pity on the rest of us mortals. Looking forward to your Escher. I did one a while ago and thought it was pretty cool.
