Life's a Beech
I found this log and brought it into the garage as the starting point for a new sculpture experiment. It’s about 8.5 inches in diameter and 26.5 inches tall, with a solid presence that made it feel worth saving. A friend suggested it may be Beech, and the smooth gray bark makes that possible, though I still need to confirm it. Maybe I need to find some leaves and determine the species that way?
I’ve started chipping away at the bark with chisels, slowly revealing the wood underneath. I don’t plan to remove all of it. I like the contrast between the rough outer surface and the exposed wood, especially around the knots.
For now, I’m letting the material guide the piece. I’ll keep testing what to remove, what to leave, and how this found log can become a sculpture.
Sealing the Edge
Here’s a new painting in progress, Aixs X: 18 × 24 inches, spray paint on canvas. Right now, it’s somewhere between an underpainting and a blueprint.
Lately I’ve been committing to a taping method I’ve known about for years, but never fully adopted. The idea is simple: seal the tape edge first, then paint the new color. It cuts down on bleed and makes it easier to get the lines clean, sharp, and precise. Very obvious. Very useful. Occasionally, I need years to accept a good idea.
It’s worked for me before, and I think it’s going to help with where I want these paintings to go. More control. Better edges. Less fixing later. Which is ideal, because I would prefer to spend my time making the painting, not cleaning up after it.
We’ll see if the finished version gets as crisp as the sketch. That’s the goal anyway!
OK Blog
Notes on art, design, process, and public work.
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