Welcome to Pondside Studio!

     Hi!  I'm Allen Aardsma.  This website is about my woodcarving and artwork.  But have fun exploring it, because it also includes some of my writings and music, as well as other's artwork, too. 
I hope you enjoy following my progress on the current carving project. You may also enjoy viewing "Carving Videos & Slide Shows" under the "Carving Help" tab, above.
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     Everything I create is in celebration of the beauty and wisdom of the God of the Bible, Who - besides being my Creator and Savior - is the Master Artist, Consummate Composer, and Infallible Author.

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Today in The Studio
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
COMMON LOON
I am currently working on "Free Room and Board" --
a Powertool carving of a Common Loon
to be entered in a show, 
“Conservation Through the Lives of Common Loons”, 
   September 4 - October 8, 2018 at the Paul Smith's VIC. 
I plan for the loon to have a small minnow in its beak
which it has caught for the chick it will have on its back.

1. Monday, August 13, 2018 This was one of two 3/4-size loons I cut out some months ago. I finished the other one at that time. Now, it is time to finish this one. Today, I worked on its basic shape.

2. Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Good progress was made today on the loon's head and beak, as well as other areas of Major Detail.

3. Loons have a distinctively-shaped head and beak --- much more difficult to 'capture' in art than one might think.

4. I love the graceful form of a loon --- from the tip of its strong dagger-like beak to the end of it's rounded tail, and all the curves and contours in between!

"Magnetic Flat Birds"

  The third "hatching" of 1/4"-thick, flat birds is completed. Sixteen each of Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Winter Wrens, and Song Sparrows were cut out and sanded last autumn.  The finishing touches were put on them, today.  The finished works of art can be used as fridge magnets, Christmas Tree ornaments, or decoration in many other ways .  For instance, we have brightened our kitchen by velcroing one to each of our kitchen cupboard doors.  They are available from Pondside Studio Store --- under "Fridge Magnets".  A complete set of all four species sells for $50 plus $5 shipping.  They make excellent gifts for bird-loving friends.

FLAT BIRDS

1.) Wednesday, August 1, 2018 Sixty-four 1/4"-thick birds have been cut out and sanded, and are now ready for the next step.

3.) Thursday, August 2, 2018 After drawing on each cutout, I used the wood-burner to outline the pencil sketching.

5.) For no special reason, I started, today, by painting the 16 White-breasted Nuthatches. I finished them shortly after lunch.

8.) A closer look at the Tufted Titmice.

10.) A closer look at the Winter Wrens.

2.) The distinctive body pattern of each of the birds now needs to be drawn on the 64 cutouts.

4.) A closer look at the four species, after they've been "burned".

6.) Then I painted the 16 Song Sparrows, and finished them just as my studio wall-clock struck 5:00. I find this type of painting to be quite pleasurable.

7.) Saturday, August 4, 2018 It took me quite a lot longer than I expected to paint the Tufted Titmice, but I was able to finish them by 2:00.

9.) I was hoping to be able to completely paint the Winter Wrens by 5:00, and I almost made it. I was done by 5:10. The final steps will be to spray the birds with a sealer, sand the back sides, sign them and date them, and put a magnetic strip on each of them.

A sleepy Screech Owl showed up in the studio, recently.

1.) Tuesday, July 17, 2018 Screech Owls like to sleep hidden, during the day -- often in a tree hollow. I'm going to do a powertool relief carving of one doing so. After making a rough sketch, I drew the basic outline on a block of Basswood.

2.) The 1" Typhoon burr really throws the sawdust, as I begin the carving.

4.) It really didn't take too long to begin to "see" the owl sitting in his tree hole.

6.) The late afternoon sun is casting dark shadows on the owl's first coat of paint.

3.) Switching to a smaller karbide bit, I continue to shape the owl and the piece of tree trunk.

5.) Wednesday, July 18, 2018 I was eager to get out to the studio this morning to continue working on the little Screech Owl. Using a variety of bits and burrs, along with the wood-burner, I made good progress.

7.) Thursday, July 19, 2018 Except for adding the finish and glossing the beak and talons, this fun carving is completed.

Three life-sized Flickers recently hatched in the studio.  

One of the most beautiful birds in the northeast.

3.) Tuesday, July 3, 2018 I changed the pattern slightly and made two more cutouts.

1.) Monday, July 2, 2018, 94 degrees inside the studio! Here is the initial pattern and cutout.

4.) There was a lot of wood to remove, but by day's end the two new Flickers were fairly well roughed out.

2.) I spent the afternoon -- very warm! -- roughing out this prototype. I will use it to improve my pattern for two more cutouts.

5.) Thursday, July 5, 2018 Today's work consisted of continuing to Rough-out and carve the Major Detail on the three Flickers. Good news? They are now ready for Fine Detail.

6.) Friday, July 6, 2018 Most of the Fine Detail carving is now done. Time now for some Minor Detail carving! ; )

8.) Monday, July, 9, 2018 The Flickers got their base-coat of paint. Now, for some detail.

10.) Friday, July 13, 2018 After a day of fine detail painting, the Flickers are very close to being ready for their bases.

7.) Saturday, July 7, 2018 Another good day of carving. By 5:30 p.m., the three Flickers were all carved and ready to be painted.

9.) Thursday, July 12, 2018 A good day of painting detail on the three Flickers. Maybe I can finish painting them, tomorrow.

You can view many more projects from start to finish by clicking on the link, below.

OTHER CARVING PROJECTS

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