Jim Kelso Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 (edited) So more or less done and dusted on this one. I call it Kinship of Cherished Ephemerals. Here's some of what I wrote in the certificate of origin: 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] This piece is significantly different from most of my previous work in the way that it evolved. I began, as usual, with a drawing, but the only aspects that remain in the final work from that drawing are the outline as seen from above and some suggestions of directional flow. All of the details in the woodcarving came from interaction with the wood-grain as the carving progressed, starting with the recognition of a watery swirl in the area of the feather, and a highly figured area near the stone. 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). close-ups to follow. Edited January 7, 2014 by Jim Kelso My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyler Miller Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 It takes a moment to really "get it," then it sinks in. The pine needles seem at home, but the feather stands out. I feel as though in person I'd want to pick the feather up or brush it away. It's a neat effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miles Hebbard Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Subtle, emotive and powefull at the same time, I love the result, feel like reaching for my fly rod! To become old and wise... You first have to survive being young and foolish! Ikisu.blogsot.com. Email; milesikisu@gmail.com mobile: +27784653651 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 6, 2014 Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 Ahh, I like the visceral physical response. These pieces are really made to hold and experience tactilely. I'm glad that even the photo conveys some physical triggers. Thanks guys. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Ullrich Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Captivating ...thanks for sharing. I look forward to the closeups I have always thought that one man of tolerable abilities may work great changes, and accomplish great affairs among mankind, if he first forms a good plan.... - Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Ready for my close-up. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Longmire Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 As much as I love every part, that divot on top of the "pebble" just kills me. Way to go, Jim! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Love it! Direct hit - you sank my battleship... Tom Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Very evocative. Few things take me to the place this does, a place of Waldeinsamkeit. A very calming place. There are times in the wild places that time itself seems to stop. A perfect moment. This piece seems to capture one of these. For me it is bursting from the dark woods into the sun on the banks of a rushing creek. I've heard this concept described as a Zen Garden, I'm not sure that is the correct term since I am not an expert on Zen. It is a very enjoyable piece. Thank you for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 As much as I love every part, that divot on top of the "pebble" just kills me. Way to go, Jim! Cheers Alan. The pebble was made from a sandwich of two alloys of shibuichi with 18k gold solder to emulate some striped stone found in Lake Champlain. I took the heat up higher than necessary to try to get some eutectic action between the layers so the stripe wasn't terribly crisp. Initially I wanted to round the top but as I took it down I thought it looked better with the"divot". You see that effect a lot in streams around here where a layer has been busted off then polished down by the water. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 7, 2014 Author Share Posted January 7, 2014 Love it! Direct hit - you sank my battleship... Tom Hah! You still have your carrier, sub, destroyer and patrol. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 Hah! You still have your carrier, sub, destroyer and patrol. Yeah, but now I'm too zoned out in my happy place to employ them... Tom SterlingTom's Instagram Tom's FacebookSterling Sculptures Web Site Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Colwell Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 beautiful, and as always, makes me feel serene. I love the Thoreau reference, too. I teach about him in Psy and Law in the unit on social justice and change. nice. please visit my website http://www.professorsforge.com/ “Years ago I recognized my kinship with all living things, and I made up my mind that I was not one bit better than the meanest on the earth. I said then and I say now, that while there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” E. V. Debs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabin -Haraldr- Piedbois Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 Just as looking at this piece, i feel more peaceful... Amazing work as usual ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Very evocative. Few things take me to the place this does, a place of Waldeinsamkeit. A very calming place. There are times in the wild places that time itself seems to stop. A perfect moment. This piece seems to capture one of these. For me it is bursting from the dark woods into the sun on the banks of a rushing creek. I've heard this concept described as a Zen Garden, I'm not sure that is the correct term since I am not an expert on Zen. It is a very enjoyable piece. Thank you for sharing. Thanks very much Jason. Waldeinsamkeit; what a great word. That pretty much sums it up. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 wow love those pictures too. that is a place I'd like to grow roots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 8, 2014 Author Share Posted January 8, 2014 Jason are you in Washington State? It's a beautiful state. I grew up in Ellensburg. Here is the underneath. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Justin Mercier Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 I love working with vera wood and the other types of lignum vitae. Makes the whole shop and house smell wonderfull for days after =) What did you use to polish the wood? or is it just burnished? The finish is great! --- Justin "Tharkis" Mercier www.tharkis.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Jason are you in Washington State? It's a beautiful state. I grew up in Ellensburg. Here is the underneath. Yes, outside of Monroe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 I love working with vera wood and the other types of lignum vitae. Makes the whole shop and house smell wonderfull for days after =) What did you use to polish the wood? or is it just burnished? The finish is great! Justin, Vera is so oily and dense it needs no finish, and I don't know of anything that would stick! The fragrance is magic. I take it to 1200 paper and then buff on a goblet wheel with compound designed for lacquer that does not leave any visible residue. My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 9, 2014 Author Share Posted January 9, 2014 Jason this photo shows a place on the Snohomish River just up Rt 2 between Index and Baring where the road comes right next to the river. There is a small parking area. It's a magnificent place. Maybe you know it. Jim My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 (edited) Unfortunately I know that spot too well. I think it may actually the be called the Skykomish River up that far. It becomes the Snohomish farther down. My heart sank when I saw that picture (not your fault). It is a beautiful spot but there is hardly a bend in that river that does not have such a memory for me. I volunteered with SAR for about 9 years and there are 2 spots similar to that along that stretch of the river up from Index. One, the lower one, I think, has about a 50 foot falls at the upstream end which is just down from the rail bridge. About 10 years ago I pulled the lifeless body of a young man from the water there. He was about the same age as I was, maybe a year or two younger. He had gone over the falls while trying to save a young woman, she lived, with serious injuries. He did not survive. I still remember seeing his face in that crystal clear water as I pulled the line the diver had attached to him. I still remember the embrace his mother gave me as thanks for bringing her boy home. Now there is a sign upstream of the falls warning of it. It is not a normal place to float the river but it does happen from time to time. Sorry if that is TMI. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20040811/NEWS01/408110733 Edited January 9, 2014 by Jason Brown Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 9, 2014 Share Posted January 9, 2014 Sorry for the downer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted January 10, 2014 Author Share Posted January 10, 2014 (edited) Certainly no need to apologize Jason. I'm very sorry you had to go through that, but it sounds as though you were a great comfort to his mother. I do have to say that being at that spot on that river on that day was tremendously healing for me and my son and his family who were in the aftermath of a heart-breaking tragedy. It's almost too ironic for words how different our experiences were there. At the risk of sounding trite, and clearly you know this intimately well, but it can be said that nature can be immensely comforting but also demands supreme respect. Edited January 10, 2014 by Jim Kelso My website and INSTAGRAM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Brown Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks. No need to feel sorry for me, Sorry for gushing all over your thread with my gut-check. Of course a place will be different for different people. I'm glad you had a good experience there. Those rocks just have a certain familiarity to me. I chose to do that kind of work to help folks in need. I found that even in the cases where we didn't bring a person back alive to their family that their families were usually very grateful to have them back at all, not to have to wonder what became of them. It was rewarding in it's own way to minister that one last bit of respect to a person who had fallen, something I take very seriously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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