Completion!

           I am happy to announce the completion of my second Commission piece.  The design will be available in the Available Art section as my "Fat Chef" design. 

           It took me several hours to complete not counting the various changes at my client's request.  As you can see in the earlier post, I clouded some purple and wine color into the background but my client decided that her kitchen could use a more true red.  Thus, the change was made. 



         Also, I decided to paint my Rooster piece for all to see.  I love painting chickens and Roosters (I own a few prized birds) and since I found painting this one young Cock to be such a joy I may do whole Rooster Portraits in the near future.       

        He is detailed right down to the bloodstripe on the inside of his legs.  
       
        He is not sealed or finished so he appears clouded on camera but in person he is quite handsome.  I should hope to be able to burn and paint many breeds of Roosters for your kitchen soon. 

      

         

         This is one of my birds, a Buff Orpington Cross.  I have four survivors.  You'll understand what I mean if you read an old post about predators.  I love my birds.

         They are much more mature now and lay me eggs almost every day.  They're my girls, my babies, my pets, and my source of breakfast. 

          I love listening to them sing to me and enjoy singing back to them.

Their names are (from most speckled to most true Buff):  Dinah, Clementine, Babette, and Susanna.

        



Progress

      I have progressed greatly on the Fat Chef Kitchen Decor Piece I was commissioned to do.  With a few tweaks to the burning and calligraphy I then painted it and will seal it in a matte spray when I am sure I am satisfied with the painting. 

    This stage is almost as critical as the planning and drafting stages.  I must set the piece aside for a short time and then when I pick it back up I will notice things that may need tweaking before it is sealed. 

    It may be only two more days before this piece is completed. 

          I am also very excited to announce that my Native American Talking Stick is complete and will be listed for sale in the One of A Kind page. 

          I have sealed it in a glossy polyurethane sealer and it only waits to be used.  Here you may be able to see some of the markings burned upon it:  the kokopelli, the wolf paw, human hand, eagle, and horse.

        

        My camera kept altering the flash so that it reflects too brightly off the semi-precious stones.  The entire stick is very dark and mysteriously knotted and is quite gorgeous in person. 

        Please see my One of A Kind page for more details. 

        Thankyou for visiting Phoenix Pyrocreations, please follow my blog!

Commission Update

Here is an update on the Fat Chef Piece I have been commissioned to do.  I am not yet finished burning but once I am I will begin painting. 

I still have a little fine tuning to do on the lettering at the top, however, the Menu's lettering seems fine. 

I will also darken the Chubby Chef before painting.

At the moment I am also waiting for warmer weather to gloss and seal the Native American Talking Stick.

Check back for more updates soon!

New Commission and Talking Stick Update

         

I am excited about my newest commission artwork, a Fat Chef Kitchen decor piece.  It's completely fashionable, somewhat Rustic, and yet somehow Fine art.  Right now it's only sketched but I will soon have it on the basswood and then in color. 

            

           As for the Native American Talking Stick, it is very near completion.  I strung beads and turquoise to two Raven feathers and skilfully pieced it together running through a natural hollow in the stick. 

       I had already burned a running horse on the top end, Kokopelli near the handle and a human hand print as well.  I plan on adding a few more burnings before it is completed. 

 For an extra special touch, I embedded turquoise into the wood near the head of the talking stick.

The flash glared on it a little here however it looks splendid in person.  When the entire creation is sealed and glossed it will be a jewel for one lucky person's mantle. 

As for the symbols in my choice of decoration for this authoritative talking stick, the Raven feathers represent wisdom, curiosity, and ingenuity.  The earth tone wooden beads represent warmth of spirit and friendship in debate and the white wooden beads represent purity. 

Turquoise represents truth fullness and honesty in speech.  It enhances communicating skills, creativity, self-expression, and imagination.  Great for story-telling. 

       I will be posting more updates soon so come visit again soon! 

  

Native American Talking Stick

           My next project I feel will be a Native American Talking Stick.  This is not a picture of driftwood although it could pass for driftwood.  I know better though.  I found it on my property and know that it comes from some sort of vining tree...that climbs up around oaks and pines.  It is an extremely hardwood and very heavy.  I own a walking stick cut from such a vine/tree and it has broken many an aluminum pole. 

           I liked the idea of a talking stick because it seems to be the best way to decorate this unique piece of wood.  Also, I liked the fact that Native American Indians were much more civilized in their debates (although they considered the stick to be inhabited by spirits) than say the British Parliament or the American Congress.  The stick was often decorated with strips of leather, feathers, and carvings of animals or symbols.

         It was passed around during ceremonies and discussions so that only the man holding the stick could speak.  When that person was finished he would pass it to his right or left according to seniority or the man of his choice so that the next person whether agreeing or disagreeing would have a chance to voice his opinion.   Discipline to not steal the stick or fight over it or talk too long likely came from that fact that they believed that spirits indwelled themselves in it. 

      Though it holds somewhat of a spiritualism image I like that fact that it is part of the Native American heritage and held order in debate.  The idea has intrigued me so much that I plan on making one of the stick you see here. 

      It is so wrinkled and mysteriously knotted that I thought I could never find the right thing to burn on it.  It shall make a lovely talking stick for anyone of Native American Ancestry, any collector of Native American history, or anyone who wants to teach their children not to talk out of turn.  It has a marvellous knot on the end that I thought was perfect for keeping others in line.  (grins) 

       I cannot be certain of this at the moment, but the talking stick may have also been used in story telling!

    Thanks for stopping by!!  Visit again soon or become a follower.  Your comments are appreciated.  The duck might appreciate them too.   

2011

           If this post makes no sense at all and if the sentences are run on and nonsense and repeat themselves and run on and don't make sense...it is because I am up at 11:41 PM.  I am a party pooper.  I do not like to party late, nor do I like New Year's Eve Parties. 

          The reason I am up so late, is strictly because others like to party on New Years.  This includes my bedroom.  This would not be a problem, could I sleep anywhere in any setting.  However, I do not sleep unless there is complete darkness and complete silence.  Now, this has it's rules and exceptions to the rules.  I sleep through downpours, I sleep through Gulf Coast Thunderstorms and Super cells, I slept through Hurricane Ivan, (I was on the front porch during Hurricane Katrina) I sleep through firecracker explosions, I sleep through the fire department arriving at my dad's call because someone stole a vehicle and burned it on the road in front of our house.  I sleep through alot. 

          I do not sleep through someone staying up late on the computer in the other room.  I do not sleep through two people talking in the other room.  I do not sleep through running TV's, radios, night lights, or the neighbors' bonfire parties at midnight.  I do not sleep through someone reading a book in the next room. 

           This is how the start of every New Year begins for me.  With bags under my eyes, fog brain, appetite loss, grumpiness, and slurred speech I crawl into bed whenever the other's decide they're heard the last firecracker and played their last card or board came...when they themselves are too tired to laugh.  I crawl into bed...and...it's now 11:52 PM....my fingers are becoming about as sluggish...as my brain here....

           It's doubtful you've read this post in the year 2010.  In just a few minutes the world...in it's successive time zones will welcome in the year 2011.  New years do not excite me because they are new years with new numbers to represent them.  I celebrate the New Year as being a few months closer to spring and summer...my favorite months.  I celebrate it because I am so happy to have another year to spend with the people I love.  And I definately celebrate the fact that all the hooplah is finally over so that I can get my sleep. 

          It is now 11:57 PM.  Happy New Years.  I'm going to bed and when it's 12:01 AM January 1st, 2011, you just get your noise over with and crawl under the covers.  I'll do my celebrating at 6:30 AM January 1st, 2011 like all normal people.  Goodmorning dear readers.  Goodmorning 2011. 

Pan Flute

        I am so excited and happy to announce the arrival of my panflute!!  Because I play silver flute in a youth orchestra it is not hard for me to play, however, I still have yet to master the half steps in the lower octave.  This magnificent instrument was purchased from Hawaii, hand crafted by Brad White, a pan flute musician himself as well as teacher. 

        I cannot say enough about his professionalism and the way he conducts his panflute shop.  My pan flute is of excellent quality, crafted from durable Maple wood (beautiful too!) and complete with an inlay band.  I am so excited to be learning it and cannot wait to be good enough to be able to play most songs on it.  It, being a Grand Tenor, has the range of my orchestral silver flute, and I like that.  I can reach middle C and go three full octaves up to the third c with some clarity. 

      I hadn't experienced dizziness since I first picked up my silver Pearl (well, actually, I learned on a Laval) but I'm convinced the panflute requires much more air support than does any metal pipe.  I love the earthy, ethereal sound the vibrating wood gives off and quite prefer it to my silver flute, although I still treasure it as well.  However, the more flutes the merrier.  They are like my other voices...my second and third sets of vocal chords.  If you think I can't sing...well, let me get my flute.  

     Just because you don't have a voice like so and so doesn't mean you can't sing.  At least, that's the way I feel about it.  Anyway, if you're in the United States, or anywhere in the world for that matter, and are interested in pan flutes, visit Brad White's pan flute shop.  Not only does he sell them there but he also offers helpful resources for the aspiring musician.     http://panflute.net/

                     Now, this panflute means that I will soon be posting the construction of a highly durable case with which I can transport, store, and hold it in.  It's gorgeous pipes would not be complimented by any old plastic woven black case and it doesn't look South American enough for me to weave one of yarn.  I intend to create a purse with a long strap so that when slung over my soulder, rests the pan flute directly under my arm for added protection.  I hope to construct the case of soft leather and hair on hide (perhaps rabbit or cow to match my other bag) and line it with a very fluffy and protective lining...not egg crate...but something just as good. 

                     Please comment if you have any good or even better ideas.  And don't forget to check out my new page "Pyromail"  Now...I've spent all this time blogging when I could have been practising.