Soon Coming Website and Prints!

So after much research about how to get quality photographs of my art for print-making, I dared to brave the unknown, on my very own.  I decided I would have to be the artist with the camera as well as with the pen.

So of my latest commission, here is the Eagle, whom I aim to offer for sale in a variety of print sizes in the very near future.  If he is my first print available for sale, he will be the start of a Phoenix Pyrocreations website as well!!  Cheers!

I am so very excited!!  

New York Police Officer's Wonderfully Big Heart

Most everybody admires a man in uniform.  We admire our soldiers, our EMT personnel, our Firefighters, our boy-scouts, our Football players, .......what about our Police officers?  You know, they're the guys you don't much like to see because they usually appear behind you with a flash of lights, just to hand you a ticket because you were going too fast, or didn't make a complete stop.

Honestly, the only times I've ever met a police officer face to face was on school field trips, or the time my home was invaded by a young man with a gun.  I think they're pretty awesome.  Sure, I haven't had one trailing me in his patrol car yet.  At I certainly haven't met one with a bad attitude yet.  They're humans, just like us.  They have faults, they have families, they have bills to pay, and personal problems.  But there are still a good deal of them who are honest, and this one in particular has a very big heart.

I am very pleased to bring into the spotlight, and document on my blog, this one particular policeman who understood that his job is not just to chase down the "bad-guys", but the assist the needy.  Here is a man, who like Saint Martin, gave part of his own cloak to the freezing beggar, and people made fun of Saint Martin, for walking around with half a robe on his shoulders.  But then Christ appeared to the soldier that night, and said, "As you did to the beggar man, so you have done it unto ME."

Here is a man who is valiant. 

Watch the Video

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Here is another photo, ....that inspires me.

Thoughts on Narnia

                             Warning, this is a Ramble Post

I recently and very unexpectedly sold the Simba portrait, an early pyrographic piece to a lady from out West.  She said it was a special gift for a special grandchild of hers.  I don't normally throw goodies in the bag when shipping, but I guess inspiration struck- something possessed me to write a poem.  Here it is:



The Lion is the King of Beasts, his only fear is fire.
His eyes are embers burning,
his gaze, stronger than his jaws.
May you have a lion heart,
be courageous, know no fear.
Do not roar when you are angry, be not lazy, Simba dear.

- Phoenix Pyrocreations Pyrography (L.H. Borlovan)


I haven't written a poem in literally... over two years now. And when inspiration did strike two weeks ago.... a very rough... pathetic, unfinished version still lies on a piece of lined notebook paper in a pile at my headboard.


My sale was of a lion. My current commission is of an eagle- which leads to my next subject. Griffins.... Gryphons..... I am starting to prefer the latter spelling. I love Lions, and I love Eagles, so you can correctly assume that I am totally fascinated with Gryphons. Often I have people look at me oddly and say, "What's your hangup with a mythological creature?"


I don't think there is anything wrong with the image. After all, the two beasts meshed into one represent something very good in my mind. It is a symbol, a representation, not an alien or a dinosaur, or some beast of folklore and evil deed. I see the Gryphon as a very heavenly beast, not a dragon-like creature.


Which leads me to the subject of the Chronicles of Narnia. I had one cousin express how much he loved the movie and wanted me to see it, so I watched the first, the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. I couldn't find a really deep Christian meaning in the entire thing, but I was pleased with the film and can appreciate it for what it is. It is something I would care to see again and show others.


This past week, while visiting another cousin, I find Prince Caspian on his DVD wall. Goodies, could I help but watch it? I found even less symbolism- easily recognizable allegories and allusions woven into the plot, but again, a perfectly fascinating film. So now, my thoughts.


Just want to say, not putting Peter aside, Edmond is my favorite character in the second film. Sure he made his mistakes in the first film, but he is a bundle of fight. Gusty. Gryphon's gall. I can't tell you how many time I was shouting, "Go Edmond!" From when he shattered the white witch's ice image to running to help Peter. His character... is like ...my alter-ego. He knows no fear.


So lion-hearts aside, I just don't understand why the Gryphon has such a small part in every Narnia film. I was totally flighted by the fantastic Gryphon invasion of the second film. Epic. And so...as you can imagine, I may be burning the creature in the near future. I aim to anyway. The Lion and the Eagle... they just fit.

And the Smoke Clears

So I entered my work in the Mobile Country Greater Gulf State Fair for the first time, and Saturday took the morning to go to the fairgrounds and enjoy the bird show until they opened up for 4H exhibit.  I gathered some interesting photos along the way I thought I would share.

Check out this skinny dude.  The Cochins, Dutch Games, and Bantams made up the majority of the bird show, and seem to be more popular among hobbyists.  They are adorable and fiesty, but far too impractical for me.  

I took some reference photos at the heifer show.  I love the natural beauty of a cow.  

This set-up was for contestants to pose in front of with their animal and have their picture taken.  

Calves for auction.  The black calf kept running and hiding behind his friend whenever I came up to take a picture. 

And then, when the 4H exhibits finally opened up at noon with the rides, I meandered in and was completely surprised to find my work on display, with three ribbons attached.  Wow-zer! 

 At the other end of the exhibit were more unique pieces of art.  I took pictures of my favorites.

This wicker peak cock for example...

Sure it won first because it was the ONLY wicker creation, but I think it deserved 1st even with competition.  This was cool.

Somebody local carves some amazing walking sticks as well.

And canning...

And the pumpkins (oops, spelled Pimpkins there... haha, that gives me an idea for next year's pumpkin...I might actually enter one.)  So really, the turkey  got second, and the pig got second, the but the Angry bird deserved as much as the pig. See, those judges stuck up for the pigs.

Now that is a PIMP-kin.  ANGRY BIRDS!!

I thought this was totally ingenuitive though.  Definitely deserved 1st.

A favorite photograph that well deserved the ribbon.  I have actually seen this homeless man in my area so the picture strikes home even harder.

And there I am.  Shocked, but proud too.  I am eager to do it again next year.  Entering was easy, but next year I am going to try for the fine arts exhibit.  Competition will be tough, but the prizes are better too.  

Thanks for checking in with me.  I am beginning an eagle commission this week so follow along on FB for quick updates.  Feel free to write or comment,

Hi Everyone,

I thought I would take the time to share something I've found.  As you may know I have been running around trying to figure out how to make prints of my work.  Where to start?!  This link proved to be very helpful.  Unfortunately, it has not told me how to make a digital file for the work, but it is very informative.  Take a look:

http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/showthread.php?t=382489

Local Fair

I've never entered a real art contest before, let alone a fair so this month has held a world of new experiences for me.  I was worried I would have to attach hangars to the back of my wood pieces- which I don't want to do until after I make prints of them- so there was a lot of pressure on me as the deadline drew close.

Every night after work I'd hasten to the table and spend most of the night burning.  I was getting...burned out.  No kidding.  But when I went to the fairgrounds, they assured me that the hanging was all taken care of.  So that was a huge relief.

Jazz is the Color is my latest burning, which I will have photographs of when they are released from the fair exhibition in two weeks.  The Saxophone burning features a tenor Sax against a double bass.  Lovely!  Can't wait to show you the completed pictures.  I also have more burn videos coming up so stay tuned for some embedded clips.

In the meantime, visit my facebook profile and page to keep up with the every-day details.

https://www.facebook.com/phoenixpyrocreations.pyrography

Thanks for stopping by,
Feel free to give me help and suggestions,
I am still looking around for a print-shop that suits my needs.

All That Jazz!!

 It has been a while since I've posted last.  Apart from cutting my wood into all the wrong shapes and sizes (I had forgotten that I was going to burn a set of chess portraits), it took fresh inspiration a while to juice on through.

Then I remembered that I had also wanted to do something...musical.  And I needed two instruments that would compliment each other, both in their sounds, as well as their composition, layout, and textures.

So I went with the brassy, metallic woodwind (a Tenor Saxophone), and what I had originally hoped to be a cello, ended up being a double bass.

So far, the burn has been going slowly.  First step is to do a wash-coat sort of burn for the double bass and add the highlights and textures later.  I love how the wood grain runs with the double-bass so perfectly.

It gives it such a nice wood grain burn.  I hope to use two different oils when this piece is finished to bring out the yellow in the sax, and some reds in the double bass.

This birch ply is so much fun to work with, and I am carefully planning out my future pieces to offer prints of. It will be an exciting month, when I receive my first framed prints to sell!!!

As always, you can get more updates and the in-depth scoop by finding me on Facebook @ Phoenix Pyrocreations Pyrography.

Also, check out the Piano Guy's latest video!!  Titanium/Pavane!!  It is hauntingly beautiful.  If you haven't already heard of the piano guys, look them up and subscribe.  You'll wish you had known about them a year ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fz4MzJTeL0c

As always, thanks for coming, feel free to leave a comment or write, and check out my Facebook page and profile for more details.

Phoenix