Work in progress

Re: Work in progress

Carole in VA

>Mike, do you have nightmares after working on those bugs? LOL I think maybe at one time you must have been abducted by aliens! That one looks like it should have a little one hatching out of it's head. Definitely cool!

Re: Work in progress

Dale Stansbery

>There aren't enough legs for a bug. My first impression was a rubber legged buck, with a lot of artistic license thrown in.

Re: Work in progress

GeeSeaWhy

>Now that bites!

The base looks rather like a brain - so is the bug growing out of your brain, or is it hoping to eat your brain?

You certainly do get a lot of variation in these pieces, in the bases as well as the turned part.

Graeme

Re: Work in progress

Tom Mullane

>Graeme,

I think the bugs started eating Mike's brain before the first one was done.. LOL

Mike all I can say is that you are bringing back visions of what I used to see in the 60's.... or at least what I think I used to see... LOL

Re: Work in progress

Gary in Zirconia,NC

>Awsome! You are definately going in the right direction with this!

Re: Work in progress

Raymond Overman in SC

>It has to be fun seeing those things come together. One of the truly innovative things I've run across in my Internet woodturning research/reading. I can't wait to see it once you get the finish on it.

Re: Work in progress

JL

>I guess you do have bugs on the brain. You will have to repost all of them and get a series retrospective. Really nice innovative work.

Are you on drugs???

Pete Lamberty

>Or is this the kind of thing you see after your body runs out of fuel three quarters of a way through an iron man? I really can't comment much on these "bug" pieces of yours, Mike. They are strange looking. But I feel that you are trying to do some real art work. From seeing your past turnings, bowls and hollow forms, it is obvious that you are striving to do great artistic work, instead of just turning. I think that you should inquire about these from really knowledgeable people. Maybe take it to the local college art department and ask one of the teachers or post it on somekind of art website for a critque, or go to an art museum. We here can say if we like it or not, but I doubt if any of us are of a caliber that can give you a proper critique of your work. Some of the readers here maybe of that caliber but I/we don't really know.

The Dreaded Brain Crab...

Jorge Castaneda ~ Downeast Maine

>Terrific!

Re: Are you on drugs???

Mike Schwing from Md.

>Pete, I have actually hallucinated during Ironman and other long distance races, but I didn't see these things. Once I was suffering pretty badly from overheating and I was watching the trees run past me on the side of the road. Another time I thought I saw a real comfy lounge chair in the middle of nowhere during the marathon portion of an Ironman. (funny how they always occur during the run)

One very interesting thing, to me anyway, is that from all of the comments made as to my brain state every time I post a new bug is that I thought EVERYONE had stuff like this in their heads, they just never talked about it. My brain is constantly dreaming up wild fantasy kinds of animals, buildings, machines, etc.. I never had a way to get any of them out of my head till now.

Also, carving a brain is a very contemplative kind of thing. At several points I wondered if somehow unconsciously I was carving folds of my own brain, or which one of the folds was responsible for the carving skill I was using. Creating something of a likeness that is the "essense" of self is a very odd thing if you think about it. Does this mean I'm a square? Or perhaps just a blockhead?

I've been working with several folks on this and another artistic woodworking website on this piece. In fact, Keith T - our newly annointed Niche winner, has helped me along with ideas on this one quite a bit, as has Andi Wolfe, Jennifer, and a few others. I am kind of out there on my own in a way, but it is fun. I have a real itch to spin up a block of wood and make some shavings though, I can tell you that for sure.

Re: Work in progress

Paul Porter in Phoenix, AZ

>Cool, Mike! I like the direction you are headed.

Ahhhaaa....There's where it went...

KurtK in Indy

>I have felt lately that I've been losing my blockhead mind....to many things to do...not enough hours in a day....

Actually...as usual...very cool stuff, Mike. I think these will be right up there with the abstract art pieces that people eat up....Have you gone to any NYC galleries yet?? I think that well to do Gen Xers would really like one of those next to their I-Macs.

Well done!!

Kurt

Re: Work in progress

John Lucas

>Mike

It's looking great. Your probably going through what I went through a few years ago at work. Every time I brought something in they would say wow that's nice, what's it used for. Now they just look and say, what drugs are you on. John

Have you considered Psychoanalysis??

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Really Great Wood Art, Mike.

Mark

Cool ! Positively Cerebral !

Brad Vietje

>

Re: Are you on drugs???

Jennifer@Indy.USA

>Wow.....Mike.....you've been adding some details that I was unaware of until just now when I clicked.....I love the brain! It adds a whole new dynamic to the piece that wasn't there before when you just had the base rough. It's so crazy I don't even know what to say. I do love it though! Keep at it Mike...who knows where this going to go!

I don't care what anybody else says....it's fun to be off kilter!

Heee-hee :)

Jen

Sponge Bug Squarebrain

Bob Hackett

>Who lives in a hollow form under the sea...

Everybody sing along till we can get the net thrown over Mike.

How did you go from 2 drawer Shaker tables to this seemingly overnite?

Are we seing the lingering effects of the Makore working?

No more crabby patties before bed for you Mike!

I truely look forward to the finished product.

I hesitate to ask,what`s next?

Mainely,Bob-Who has to spend the rest of the day with the Sponge Bob jingle running thru his head.I hope you`re happy Mike.

Re: Work in progress

Keith Tompkins

>Looks perfectly normal to me....A.B.normal, that is!lol

Reminds me.......

Andy Halterman: Crocus and Iris bloomin'

>of the time I was hiking up from the bottom of a big ditch in northern AZ on the Boucher trail. Into triple digits for temps. Left Boucher Creek and began the slow, steep slog up to Travertine Canyon. Before I knew it, I was having a great conversation with a couple other hikers that weren't there. This went on until I hit the shadows further up canyon. I looked around and couldn't find my hikin' buddies. Took me a few to realize I was on a heat induced halucination ride.

Regardless of any of that, I think your bugs are pretty darn cool. Creativity scores big points with me.

Keep 'em comin'.

Andy Halterman

Gettin' ready for another trek in that big ditch in Hendersonville, NC�

Turely the work of a sick mind. I like it.

RevDoug

>