Speedpainting - Meeting Yeshua

Splintered Green & the Smells of Storms

Weather this time of year in rural Indiana can be fickle... It can't seem make its mind up, hesitant to take the leap into the rebirth of greenery & gold light. But bit by bit sprouts shoot up amidst the glooming drenched muddy landscape and fields. Growing up as a kid spring always had a distinct smell that sent the imagination running wild when the scent of fresh rains and storms rushing through the woods hit your face.

 God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars. - Martin Luther

~

I've been by the forge more than usual lately to make up for lost time during the winter.

More than 10 swords in the works simultaneously at the moment, all very complex, some the most ornate and intimidating projects I've been commissioned to craft to date.

Pilgrim's Progress...

Dreaming with passion & energy about the road ahead...

Digital photoshop sketch. 1 hour 36 minutes, Wacom Bamboo tablet.

Bladesmithing for a Cause

At the moment I'm focusing on two swords and some commission illustration work. One particular sword for the cause of auctioning off for a good cause. Andy & I will be giving %100 of the proceeds of this sword to Samaritan's Purse an incredible disaster-aid organization & ministry. Obviously compelled to do this in light of Japan's earthquakes, New Zealand's prior earthquakes, and the anniversary of Haiti.

Lots of new projects in the works that I'm eager to finish and share...

Oakeshott XVIIIb - Bloodwood Ring Pommel Sword

I'm finishing up this sword for a customer in the coming week.

By far one of the most enjoyable commission projects I've ever worked on to date. Really love the design as specified by the customer, and really love the theme and aesthetic behind it, which will soon be clear once sword & scabbard are finished.

When finished it will have hand engraved french words in the blade, and will have medieval knotwork carved into the grip & scabbard.

 

Bookbinding - Trying my Hand...

Digital art is amazing... The things you can do with brush strokes, color schemes, and composition in programs like Photoshop, Artrage, Corel, & even 3D programs is incredible.

but there's just something extremely rewarding about putting time and effort into a work and then being able to tangibly hold it in your hands...

It's probably the reason I've ended up becoming a full time swordsmith instead of graphic designer or illustrator as I originally intended.

So any craft or medium I can get my hands on and end up with a finished product is always something that I'm magnetically drawn to.

The second I started dabbling with the idea of (basic) book binding, I had no choice but to give it a go:

The above results are a couple days work of my spare time. One (the third of the three pics) a simple brown paper leather bound sketchbook for sword designs. While the first is a more elaborate traditionally bound booklet documenting the process of forging the "Cawood sword" for the customer who commissioned the sword.
I'm a trail and error kind of learner... So I tend to actually not do much research before giving it a go. Go for it, fail really bad, and then do the research... :)
A couple fantastic quick resources I found on the web are:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nate/284184160/
http://www.ferdinando.org.uk/images/bookbinder.jpg
http://www.diyplanner.com/node/433

Selected shots from the Cawood book:

Above, the black leather bound cover of the Cawood book with goldleaf writing.

Just in my (quite petty) attempts at bookbinding, I'm finding it to be one of the most fun and rewarding crafts I've ever played around with. So I'm most definitely planning on my next sketchbook being one that I made with my own hands.

TolkienLibrary.com recently did an incredible series featuring some of the most beautifully bound editions of Tolkiens work ever made:
www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/-Book_art_book_binding_lord_of_the_rings

www.tolkienlibrary.com/press/-Book_art_book_binding_lord_of_the_rings_2

www.tolkienlibrary.com/-Book_art_book_binding_The_Hobbit

www.tolkienlibrary.com/-Book_art_book_binding_The_Silmarillion

So why not give it a try yourself?If a scatter brained artist like me can do it I am sure you can.
I am by no means an expert at this, but would be happy to give specifics on any details I learned in my two little attempts so far! Feel free and comment bellow.

Turn off the TV, click the play button on some good tunes, get inspired, and get bookbinding!

Smaug the Magnificent

Psalters - All who are Weary

Hope Valley - digital speed painting

Photoshop speed painting.

1 hour & 13 minutes.

Wasn't so much worried about the composition and color workings of this one. Just wanted to see how much I could speed up my typical working method in PS, and use as many keyboard shortcuts as possible, while playing around with new brushes.

 

More nonsense garbage like this is guaranteed to come...

Music Monday - Ludovico Einaudi - Lady Labyrinth

Ice storm brooding. Trapped indoors, wrestling with a long list with to do's, and trying to keep my head on straight, looking forward at what needs to get done and what I should be dwelling on...  +

Painting to the sounds of this is imminent: