Woodblock in Bullfighting

Design and copyright by Roland Lee 2012

 My latest work in woodblock printing are images of bullfighting. The event is sublime by nature which make for interesting images.  The image above is the final print and the images below show parts of the process of printing.

Design and copyright by Roland Lee 2012

Design and copyright by Roland Lee 2012

Design and copyright by Roland Lee 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The "No. 4"

 Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

Design Copyright Roland Lee 2012

I've emerged from my cave to begin posting some of my latest art designs and work. Recently, I've been motivated to do some woodblock carving and printing. Inspired and facinated by the work of the Japanese Ukiyo-e greats such as Hokusai, Hiroshige, Kunishige, Yoshitoshi, etc... I've sat down, got my carving tools out, drew a design, and began cutting. After doing a few prints on inkjet paper, I wasn't happy with the result. So with a roll of rice paper, I cut them to size and the results were better than expected. I could go on and on but the results are the above entitled the "No. 4"

Hog Board

Hog Cutting Board

Today's post is about functional art, specifically a cutting board. This simple piece is a slab of wood cut into a shape of a pig. It serves as an art piece when it is not being used, as a cutting board, and as a serving tray for cheese, chocolates, salami, or bite size h'orderves. It stands proudly over our sink.

The Guardian of the Sink

The side with the insignia is used for slicing meats like beef, chicken, fish or God forbid pork! Yikes!

Side of Cutting Board Used for Slicing Meats

The other side with no mark, is used for slicing fruits, vegetables, breads, or as a serving tray. Cheers!

The Childbirth Discussion

Natural Childbirth

When my wife was pregnant, we had spirited discussions about natural childbirth versus non-natural methods such as inducing labor and cesarean sections (c-sections) . The irony of it all was that we were hurled in the middle of a debate that wasn't ours. Although we were talking about the same thing, about which childbearing method is the safest for her and for the infant, we couldn't seem to see eye to eye. In the end we had a natural birth and the experience was wonderful but traumatizing for me. I was inspired by all of this to create two pieces to depict the debate.

NCB 1

 

C-Section Light

The beads nailed to the piece on c-section represents of the discomforts of medical intervention. This piece also functions as a light. It hangs in our living room as a conversation piece.

C-Section Lights off

Stenciled Bow Wow

I had an Andy Warhol moment that flashed over my melon one morning. I fulfilled that yearning by cutting a stencil of a bow wow from a manila envelope, I applied acrylic paint with a sponge on the stencil onto square scrap pieces of wood to create these nine different images of my woof woofs (above). I prepared the blank pieces of wood by hand painting backgrounds on them. I drilled holes in select sides and glued barbecue sticks to join all of the images together. This fun piece was perfect for decorating my kid's room.
Another stencil work that I did at an earlier time is of nine framed rhinos. I built a frame to join all of the nine images together. This was the first piece of art that I made for my son's room.

Wine Crate and Wind Chime

Yesterday's post illustrated the intense labor that is involved when creating a design with origami. Above are two wind chimes that consists of over 3500 nailed silver pailettes on two painted 2x4 ft. boards. It is quite an intensive project to undertake. They hang in an entrance way reflecting light and shimmering and simultaneously resonating the sounds of running water when a light breeze flows through the space. The experience is absolutely mesmerizing and calming. How long does it take to make these wind chimes you might ask? It took nearly 35 hours to nail all of them in place if you work fast.

Click here to get pailettes.

Wind Chime (top) Wine Crate Shoe Boxes (bottom)

Wooden wine crates are becoming a thing of the past. Now days, wine is shipped in cardboard boxes which means that these crates are becoming a bit more rare. Some wineries still use wooden crates to pack their wine but after they are unpacked they are discarded. There is a local wine shop that sells them for just a few dollars each where I picked them up and made them into shoe boxes. Measuring about 7"x13"x20" they save a lot of walkway space.

 

Front View

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Front View Opened

Side View 

I am writing the plans on making these wine crate shoe boxes. If you would like a copy, then please click here  or email me directly at apartmentarthawaii@gmail.com and I will send you a copy when I am finished writing.

Wood turner Michael Lee

 

Michael Lee is a down-to-earth surfer at heart, family man, fine craftsman/wood turner, and gallery owner, who has a symbiotic relationship with wood. Casually dressed in an aloha shirt, shorts, and slippers at his annual Christmas sale, we had a conversation where he showed me his calloused fingertips from sanding his work. He has traditionalist values and he will not waiver to accept anything less than perfect. In a separate conversation, he said that he treats each bowl like it is his last creation. It is this kind of fortitude and focus that is reflected in the intensity and quality of the end product. His patient personality, calm demeanor, and positive attitude are traits that is reflected in his work. His work is a part of the permanent collection in the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian American Art Museum; the Hawaii State Art Museum, the Contemporary Museum of Arts, he Hawaii Academy of Arts, etc. . .

 

One may think that it would be unaffordable to own something made by Mike Lee especially with the name and the reputation that he has created for himself. By representing himself at a artist-owned co-op gallery at the Gallery at Ward Centre, an average person can own one of his wonderful wood carvings/wood bowls. While there, you will find the work of other fine artists such as Doug Young, Debbie Young, Roger Whitlock, Jackie Mild-Lau etc. . . On any given day, you can meet any of them and ask them questions about their artwork. 

Click here to see more of Mike Lee's work.

                                                                 

Their annual holiday reception is coming up on December 11th from 12p.m. til 4p.m.  Check it out!

The Labor of Art

Picture 1: Reclaimed wood from a futon bedrame

The unspoken truth about art is that it can be quite labor intensive from putting an idea together to the installation of the completed project. I happen to savor every sweaty moment. Take oil painting for example: one essential piece of material is the canvass or some surface to brush paint on. As a purist whose first choice is to paint on canvasses, it requires that I always have canvasses on hand. Purchasing them is one way to obtain them but it can cut deep into the pocketbook, especially if custom sizes are needed or if one does a lot of painting. 

Another alternative is to make them, which requires tools, materials, and a little bit of know-how. 

In this day and age of "Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle," I gladly report that I am constantly reminded to be resourceful and use reclaimed materials. Take for example Picture 1 above: a broken futon could have been thrown out to the dump but instead I decided to saw the wood into 3/4"x1"x 8" strips and mitering the ends at 45 degree angles to make the square frame. After assembling the frame a canvass is stretched over the frame with a pair of pliers and stapled to the back of the frame (Picture 2 below).
 

Picture 2: Staple the canvass to the frame with a staple gun

The benefits of making your own frames is cost savings and being able to customize sizes and shapes. The downside is the labor for those who don't find it enjoyable, and time must also be taken into consideration. The upside, however, is a finished canvass ready for painting whenever you want or need it. 

Picture 3: Finished canvass