I waited to the very last minute to add the mirror as I knew it would be the most important step to the piece. I think the reason it broke was because the heat from the epoxy going off and the coldness of the shop just didn't cooperate with the glass. If you were in a 50 mile range of my shop you probably heard the scream at about 8:30 yesterday. I haven't really decided on whether to try and remove and replace the mirror. In a way it kind of adds to the piece. Fishing out the broken pieces could easily destroy the mirror frame. Will have to think about it for a while.
Aside from broken glass, the piece really turned out well. I used trimmings from a paint brush and some horse hair to make the clippings. Sprinkled them on while the first coat of varnish was wet and then came back and sprayed on several additional coats to lock them in place. I did this on a bottle stopper I made quite a while back and it worked out pretty good so doing it on a larger scale was fun.
Anyway, I hope you like him...even with his broken mirror. There are more photos in the Gallery and I look forward to your comments and sympathy!
Great job on the carving, and I really like the stubble where the haircut goes too high on the sides. He looks priceless and this is a great little vignette. As to the mirror...my first thought was "Oh No! How Awful" my second thought was "I know just how he felt", and (guiltily) my third thought was "At least I am not the only one who has bad luck". What to do about the mirror? That is a tough position to be in...I can see that replacing the mirror would possibly involve at the least cutting off the whole upper part of the mirror and splicing on a new top with new mirror, or at the most replacing the whole hand and mirror. I had my wife take a look at the pictures, and she said it was OK to have it broken because a lot of people have a broken mirror, especially if it is an old mirror. That comment about an old mirror made me think that if you want to leave it like it is, you might consider distressing the rest of the mirror because right now it is pristine and new looking...turn it inot an old mirror. I can also see that having the mirror broken might be an acceptable artistic consideration, but it might hurt the marketability of the piece..who wants to buy something pre-broken? Please let us know what you decide and if possible the thinking behind your decision...we like to root around in your mind for knowledge and insight into your artistic methods :) I am hoping there is another video on the horizon, starting to go into withdrawal here, although I realize you have a lot of things to do besides feed our addiction. Hope your weather improves soon and that shop warms up.
ReplyDeleteI would just leave it as it is. Broken or not this piece is top of the line in my opinion. The crack adds to it. Ginny
ReplyDeleteLynn if it's only the one crack just leave it. I like it. The angry energy this guy seems to be putting out could well be the cause of the mirror breaking.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ron , that mirror could have easily cracked due to that furious glare that guy is giving it!! I would definitely leave it or may be even make it a little worse some how then there would be no questioning that it's ment to be cracked !!! That Native American in the gallery is looking good ! Are you videoing the progress ? Looking forward to the next series, kept up the good work Lynn. Trev
ReplyDeleteI think the mirror being broken is funny. In my mind it actually makes more sense for the mirror to be broken than unbroken in this case. Firstly I picture the guy as being all crochety and grumpy all the time, like one of those permanently grumpy old men. So to me it makes sense that the mirror, either in shock or fear, broke. I think that having it broken adds a bit more character to the finished piece, even if it was unintentional. It gives you the freedom to have a better backstory for this guy too. Old man Simmons, such a grouch that he scares mirrors to pieces!
ReplyDeleteThat mirror is not nearly broken enough to match this cowboy's expression. Give it a couple more dings!
ReplyDeleteI think the broken mirror adds to the piece. He was in an old barber shop where the guy didn't really comprehend the style to be cut. Just put a bit of a dark glaze on the mirror to give a more antique look. Give it a title that reflects that situation and you'll have a real winner. Not that it isn't alread a great piece. Just a thought -
ReplyDeleteRon B.
I think if he were getting his hair cut in the bunkhouse a Friday for Saturday nights barn dance, there is a pretty good chance a broken mirror is all they'd have around.I'm sure cowboys had other things to spend their money on ( It's prolly why he had Cookie cut his hair instead of the barber. Great piece what ever you decide Good Luck
ReplyDeleteSteve T.
Don't give us any malarkey about hot glue and cold glass!
ReplyDeleteClearly, the anger on the customer's face is what cracked the mirror! :-)
Lynn, it couldn't have worked out better if you had planned it. I go along with the everybody else. Leave it alone. The cracked mirror "works"!
I would want to replace it but I would probably get blood all over the carving doing it.
ReplyDeleteI think most viewers will look at it and say " Oh dear, the mirror is broke" rather than " Oh look, the mirror is broke and really adds to the story of the piece.
Now if you aged the rest of the mirror and made it look old a beat up- then I would understand the carvers vision with the broken glass.
My dad and granddad were barbers. I love it, leave the mirror the way it is. Pat yourself on the back, kiss the wife and get going on the next project, I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteExcellent piece, and I would leave it as is it fits the carving perfectly.
ReplyDeleteLynn, If you decide to remove the mirror heat it with heat gun you dry your carvings with. the heat will soften the epoxy and the pieces will come off rather easily. arnie
ReplyDeleteHave to agree with other folks, the cracked mirror sort of says..."Damned ugly hair cut even broke the mirror." Or as ol' Bob Ross used to say, "A happy accident". Lynn, your work is amazing and inspires me to keep carving.
ReplyDeletethe cracked mirror is a great idea....but if you don't like it...you could always polish up a piece of aluminum...you can get that stuff shining pretty good...or even a piece of brass....they did use such things back in the day!
ReplyDelete