Friday, April 8, 2016

a week of work


Well, I haven't completely forgotten how to do what I do. We've done several quick little sandblasting jobs since November but these two jobs are the first 'real work' we've had since then. This used to distress me, not having any real work for months but now that I consider myself semi-retired, I don't worry about it especially since I have no intention of going out and beating the bushes for new contacts. Some things have seemingly come around full circle though. There is a company that at one time wanted an exclusive relationship with us and promised us all kinds of work. What she didn't understand is that I had already built up my company, and while I would welcome any jobs she brought to me, I didn't see how she was going to put me on the map so to speak. I agreed to bring some samples for her showroom and not sell directly to her customers as long as they were her customers. Suffice to say, we eventually had a disagreement over one customer and I eventually heard through the grapevine that she was using our work in her showroom to sell jobs and was getting another etched glass outfit to do them. I sent my (then) installer pronto to pick up all my work. I shouldn't have been surprised since she had already done the same thing to the previous before me glass etcher. Anyway, my now installer has bought out her company and so once again those jobs will come my way. 

So, this is the first week in many months that I've put in a full week's work. Most the work we've been getting just required a day or two or three here and there. I made a big effort to finish the residential job this week and I still have another two solid days on it but all the sandblasting and cream etching is done and the glass is waiting to be cleaned off and sealed. The door panel still needs the applied clear textured glass (3 pieces) but I can't do that part until I get the adhesive I need which I will do on Tuesday.

7 of 8 cabinet lites (not in order)

door lite and 8th cabinet lite

I've also been working on the renderings of the line drawings I made from the photographs they sent me for the A&M job. These help me figure out how to translate the drawings into the glass...which areas will be carved, which will be shaded, which will be airbrushed and all sorts of combinations. These are small, the size of a regular piece of paper. The next step is to make similar line drawings from the photos enlarged to 2' x 3.5'...about half size of the finished work. I'll be able to me more concise and detailed with my levels of etching though some of it won't be decided until I have full size drawings. That's what I'll be starting on next week, that and finishing the door lite.





Tomorrow though, it's work at the antique store and then Sunday get the azaleas in the ground.




10 comments:

  1. What a treat seeing your work in progress. I'd love to have etched glass in my house.

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  2. No rest for the weary Ellen. Very pretty. I'll be gardening tomorrow too.

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  3. Don't know if I could ever have survived as an artist on my own. People are so...shitty...sometimes? Glad that person got bought out and you have moved on.

    I like these dog-related drawings translated into glass. Very cool.

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  4. If you are doing something you love, work is never tedious. The people who will be getting these lovely pieces of art are very fortunate. They are lovely.

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  5. Those four panels have a art deco feel. I like how you drew the pictures for the vet office, but wondered what they would do if any of the subjects left.

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  6. I just had a brief daydream about winning the lottery & having you do a bunch of etched glass for our brand new home (wherever it would be - I'm thinking that now I do NOT want to move back to NC!). I would just tell you to do whatever felt right to you. Wouldn't that be fabulous?

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  7. I love all of your art. I think what captures me especially are the nature ones. They knock me out. And I'm in awe of all of your pieces. Your artistry, talent and technique just make me swoon.

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  8. I really, really like those residential panels. I'm a fan of art deco and art nouveau generally, and those are splendid. It's going to be interesting to see the panels for the animal hospital develop, too. I just like seeing your work(s) in process. It's like magic.

    Speaking of -- hasn't this past week been magic? It's just beautiful tonight, and maybe tomorrow, too. I'm hoping it just rains and gets it out of its system, since I'm working on two deadlines, too, and rain could put a real crimp in things.

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  9. your sandblasting is amazing looking.

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  10. Ah politics and art. What fun. I do have a new appreciation for glass art work and see it with a better educated eye. I can imagine how the light will catch those geometrics.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.