Urban Art Association

Really like "Locals Only"....I see its an edition of 15. Any deals for forum members :-)

Here are a couple of "behind the scenes" looks as my Snake Oil project took shape.

Just a few of the many steps of the jug in different stages of completion..

1. A bag of raw stoneware clay
2. After the jug has been fired once to about 1800 degrees
3. Some glaze painted on, minus the underglaze of the snake on front
4. The finished product, fired two more times - At about 2200 degrees and then much cooler for the third firing, which is the decal details. (Notice how much the clay has shrunk from even the first firing)



Here is a snap when the signs were just freshly painted and printed. They then were fit into a groove and glued onto the bottom shelf. House paint, watercolors, and ink.



The backs of the shelves are actually cut into 3 different pieces and then glued back together after having been painted separately. I had to use wooden biscuits drilled into the edges in order to make certain they would be strong enough to last forever. After the biscuits are inserted and the glue applied, they are clamped back together and left to dry overnight!







The result is quite an old and antiqued looking project, just as if you stumbled across an old Snake Oil Jug from 100 years ago!

A box full of some of the 50 hand made porcelain hearts I made for my Dark Queen of Hearts piece. Metallic gold and clear glaze.

Just a friendly reminder to the gents that Valentine's Day is nearing - Don't spend it in the dog house!!

Hi Dan -

They are actually all attached to the paintings now - this was just a picture I had when I first fired them in my kiln before they were attached. (See the very first pic of this thread to see the finished piece)

Here is my old Workhorse - My Paragon Touch & Fire Kiln. Despite it's age (20 years) it's still going strong and performs perfectly every time I fire it! In this pic I'm firing a high temp glaze - 2152 degrees and climbing!



My kiln at over 2100 degrees and getting hotter - As you can see through the peepholes in the side it's definitely RED HOT in there!




[a href="www.johnstonamerica.com"]www.johnstonamerica.com[/a]

Thanks very much Olapig!!

Thanks so much for your support gilsteph!!

It looks great there, I'm glad she loves it.

I wrote a little explanation for my website about why I choose to frame my own pieces:

Being an Art Collector myself I know how expensive framing art can be.

There have been quite a few times that framing a painting has cost me just as much (or more) than the painting itself!

There are essentially three main reasons that I choose to frame most of my Folk Art.

1. The overall look of the Art - All of my frames are solid wood. I either choose reclaimed, antique wood that has been aged for decades, or I paint wood with various crackled and distressed finishes. The frames for my folk art are an integral part of the whole feel of each piece.

2. The cost of framing. For some of my larger folk art paintings and sculptures you could expect to pay hundreds of dollars to frame each one. And even then you probably wouldn't be getting the same heavy duty, solid wood that I am using.

3. The ability to hang and enjoy your art the day you receive it! There have been times that I have had to wait for several months before I was able to hang and enjoy a favorite piece of art. Whether it was saving up extra money, or waiting for my framer to work me into the schedule, I didn't get the satisfaction of admiring my new art on my wall from day one.

Like the photo from gilsteph above, I have received photos from customers who have purchased my art who have been able to hang it the very day they received it. That makes me feel great! I really strive to make collecting and showcasing my Folk Art as easy and enjoyable as I can.

As always - Thanks for your support! Here are a couple of pics of my framed art...





www.johnstonamerica.com

Hi jopkop -

Thanks for the feedback, it's great to hear your opinion! I frame most of my pieces as I create them, so to answer your question, I don't consult with the customer before hand.

The colors I choose are loosely based on the historic milk paints used in early American crafts and homes. I see you're in Boston - I'm only a couple of hours away in western Mass. Being in New England, I'm sure you've seen some of these milk paint colors in historic settings. (barn red is an obvious one)

Of course I also choose frame colors based on the work itself. The turquoise ones above are framing an Ocean scene. The dusky orange compliments the warm yellows, rusts, golds and browns of the Elixir piece. So I'm hoping my art has a more cohesive, sculptural feel this way - as if it was created to actually advertise a Magical Youth Elixir as opposed to being a piece of contemporary art.

I would imagine it may be difficult for people to frame some of these themselves as well - most are sculptural (and heavy), which requires more than a standard frame.

All that said, I understand your point completely - I might be taking a considerable risk if a customer likes a piece, but doesn't like the frame. Certainly food for thought and very helpful for me to hear.

I can use all the constructive crit I can get!!

Thanks again for taking the time to read and reply, I am learning every day.

Rob

Here is my newest piece - Painted on 5 thick wooden boards. ;D

If you are planning to open a Voodoo Supply shop soon, but don't have a sign for your building yet, this is your lucky day!!!



Available here:

johnstonamerica.com/Folk%20Art%20Gallery.html

Thanks for checking it out!!

Rob

If anyone here is interested in buying one of my pieces in the next 2 weeks, I'm happy to offer free shipping. Just message me here to let me know!

Thanks for the support!

Rob

Just added my latest piece to my website!

This particular piece should prove fantastically popular in the coming century as we start to colonize space and everyone will want to proudly proclaim their support for their home planet.

According to my highly unscientific calculations, this art should appeal very strongly to about 5.5 billion working Earthlings. The problem is, I haven't made nearly that many! (So you may want to secure yours now.)



You can check it out here: johnstonamerica.com/Folk%20Art%20Gallery.html

Thanks for the support my fellow humans! ;D

Rob

A sneak peek at my latest project - A fully operable "Wheel of Fortune" that will not only look fantastic on the wall, but will peer into the future and tell you what's in store for you and your guests. ;D



Based on old Carnival games this will be close to 4 feet wide when it's done.

Stay tuned and as always, thanks for the support.

Best,

Rob

wowzers ...... massive