Posted By: Art Drauglis on January 5, 2009 at 9:51 am · Filed under Flora & Fauna
I had heard that birds of prey will regurgitate “pellets” of undigested food, but had never seen one of these or seen a picture of the act.
While wandering around my Father-in-law’s neighborhood and adjacent park in Denver, I came across this Red-tailed Hawk perched on a fence. In addition to being quite cooperative (I came to within six feet of it), it also provided me with a bit of a show.
And check out my first book, which is a collection of some of my best bird portraits. This shot isn’t in it, but will probably make the second collection!
Technorati Tags: hawk, cough pellet, scat, red-tailed hawk, colorado
Posted By: the wife on December 1, 2008 at 10:28 pm · Filed under Furniture
This is Woodford’s Hammer.
Mr. Woodford lived next door to us. An old man alone in an old house, barely able to get around, he was evicted when his property was sold for the back taxes.
He had no electricity and no water, but hung onto his home for four months before they came to kick him out for good.
We never knew what his story was, whether he was too stubborn, infirm or ignorant to ask for help, or if he just did not care. I learned his name only because we once received some of his mail accidentally. The people who bought the house cleaned out the debris of Mr. Woodford’s life, but did little else to it. They eventually had to sell it at a severe loss.
The new owners started the renovation by taking out the Black Oak tree which was pushing into the foundation from below, and knocking holes in the roof from above. I took much of the wood as well as a smaller Black Cherry tree which was doomed by its position between the power lines and the porch.
There was one piece which I picked up and began carving without any thought, almost instinctively. I squared it a little and followed it’s grain and a few hours later had what I knew to be a handle.
But a handle to what?
A hammer? It felt like a hammer handle, but in a very violent sort of way.
A war hammer? An Urban War Hammer? I set the handle aside and considered what I could use for the head. Some rock from Woodford’s yard struck me as the most appropriate, but there were no rocks. Only broken bricks and slices of slate roofing tiles.
A few months later I happened to look into by scrap bin/burn bag and saw a chunk of cherry in there. It was a thick “elbow” from the cherry tree. There was one 4” thick branch which had a 120 or 130 degree bend in it; I had attempted to use that natural line in as chair part, but had given up on it, putting the ends out with the other cherry and the elbow in with the scrap.
It was perfect; lots of mass and a rough, mean look which fit the piece and the concept. The head is sturdy enough to use as a mallet; I squared the ends and added pegs running across the grain to keep it from splitting further.
I will leave it up to whoever wields it whether it is a tool, a weapon, a symbol, or a sculpture.
Technorati Tags: hammer, woodford, thor, art, woodwork, wood, sculpture
Posted By: the wife on November 9, 2008 at 5:51 pm · Filed under Furniture, Gardening
Saturday was a beautiful day. Clear and sunny with a high in the 70s. After a morning client meeting I walked through the Aquatic Gardens, taking in the sun and the air, then found myself at home. I had to stay outside. I started thinking about what I could do out in the yard. Trimming the weed trees and pulling out the rest of the old chain-link fence held little appeal. Instead, I grabbed my bags of chopstick blanks, some spokeshaves and planes, and headed out to my new bench.
I whittled the Holly twigs first. Then the Peach. I poured a cup of coffee and returned to find a Carolina Wren poking around the woodpile. It kept coming back until dusk; serenading and calling from fence to tree to bush. The Apple branches came out next. I would whip off most of the bark while tapering them, leaving an inch or two at the top. By the time I was into the Sycamore chopsticks, the sun had cozied up to the trees. It had been an uncommonly relaxing afternoon and I wanted to keep going. But the light was nearly gone, and the wren had been replaced by a bat. The bright side of stopping was that, since I was out by the woodpile, there was no need to sweep up.
Technorati Tags: bench, whittling, holly, apple, sycamore, chopsticks
Posted By: the wife on October 11, 2008 at 2:51 pm · Filed under Furniture
One-of-a kind functional art corkboard made of used wine corks (all natural, no synthetics) with champagne corks spaced evenly along the outer rim. The corks are arranged in a radial pattern with split corks filling in where needed. A cherry hoop painted red with milk paint forms the outside.
But -
Something round needs something interesting in the middle; a focal point which will help it be complete. In this case that focus is a freakishly-grinning bottlecap from a bottle of Schmaltz Brewing Co. Coney Island Lager series.
16 1/4″ in diameter
3″ thick overall
finished with garnet shellac
hanger provided
shipping weight: 6 pounds
Available from our online store at adrauglis.etsy.com.
Technorati Tags: functional art, coney island lagers, beer, wine, champagne, corks
Posted By: Art Drauglis on August 7, 2008 at 6:06 am · Filed under hiking
Posted By: Art Drauglis on July 27, 2008 at 5:15 pm · Filed under Flora & Fauna
I thought that I might be able to assist the situation so I crouched down and moved to within three feet of the pair.
In order to free it I would have to use one hand to separate toe and turtle and the other to hold the hawk still. Not a recommended course of action. I thought that if I could go at the hawk from behind that the strategy might work, but if I got closer than three feet the hawk would roll back into a defensive posture. Not being able to get away, it was prepared to slash away with it’s free foot and beak. Not only that, but every time it leaned away from me, the wedged toe bent at an unnatural angle.
I have learned that observing wildlife is much more healthy and satisfying when one pays attention to the cues and body language of the animal being observed and reacts accordingly.
I backed away a few feet and then left them to their fate.
I wondered how long the turtle could keep itself boxed up, particularly if it was wounded. I imagined the toe stuck in there wagging around, stabbing and scratching. If the hawk could not free itself by dusk it was doomed. It would be an easy picking for the first bobcat, coyote, fox, or bear to wander by. I should say a relatively easy picking; it would surely fight, but there would not be a chase.
The turtle won’t open up until the hawk is gone and the hawk won’t leave until the turtle opens up and releases the hawk’s toe.
Technorati Tags: box turtle, hawk, nature, shenandoah
Posted By: the wife on July 16, 2008 at 10:11 am · Filed under Announcements & Promotions, Furniture
The Vaso Credenza featured on Apartment Therapy is made from Dyed Cherry, Beveled Glass Insert, with Brushed Nickel Hardware
Aparment Therapy featured Art’s work and the Vaso Credenza as part of their “green week.” Apparently they not only dig Art’s style, but also his commitment to using as much of the wood as possible and limited use of power tools. We acknowledge the occasional power drill or sander, but trust me most of the work is done with little hand planes and elbow grease.
We think that if Apartment Therapy liked the Vaso Credenza they should check out the Lux Prunus Corner Cabinet.
Lux Prunus Corner Cabinet is made from solid cherry with a distressed finish and brushed nickel hardware
And, of course, if those speak to you — you should definitely check out the amazing Atomic Table!
The Atomic Table is handcrafted and made from maple with a pickled finish and a glass top.
Technorati Tags: press, shout outs, apartment therapy, green, furniture, handcrafted
Posted By: Art Drauglis on July 11, 2008 at 6:44 pm · Filed under Flora & Fauna, Spoons
I saw a wild beaver for the first time last month, and tomorrow I will see a friend who has a resident beaver on his property, so I guess that beavers were on my mind….
May or may not be practical as a spoon, but the tail is large enough to be used as a small server or nut bowl
Mahogany and Apple
9 1/2″ by 5″ by 1 1/2″
24cm by 13cm by 4cm
Technorati Tags: artisan furniture, handcrafted, handmade, hand carved, spoon, beavers, wildlife
Posted By: Art Drauglis on June 27, 2008 at 1:33 pm · Filed under Furniture
More at pictures and details at Flickr - Wenonah Chair
I find one of the most satisfying parts of woodworking is the planning. I love sketching, designing, making small models, and working drawings; it gives me control of the subject and provides a base to go back to when problems arise.
For this piece I abandoned that process entirely.
I took four pieces of Black Walnut from a friend’s farm and left them on my porch with little idea of what they would become. The pieces were debris from land clearing; split from the main trunks of trees by a bulldozer.
It appeared at first that they would become part of a new handrail and banister for my own home. When I stood one of the pieces up, I realized that it had the perfect shape for a chair back. I played around with the pieces some more and realized that all of them could conceivably become a chair.
I saw a ladder-back chair with a seat made of some sort of webbing. Once I started cutting I went from four legs to three, and bent Cherry side rail become Walnut. The seat became solid, then flat, and then a gently concave row of Apple and Peach twigs from my garden.
It was a different, more intuitive and organic process for me. I believe that this is shown in the work’s sculptural lines and naturalistic feel.
Technorati Tags: furniture, split rail, wood, chairs, artisan
Posted By: Art Drauglis on June 23, 2008 at 3:35 pm · Filed under Flora & Fauna
Sweet, Huh?
Technorati Tags: deer, photography, wildlife, cute
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