The Vitrolite Specialists was a good lead Erik, thanks. He has what I need, seems pretty good to work with albeit a bit hard to get ahold of. Apparently he is on the road a lot installing this stuff. He was telling me of an entire room done in glue chipped Vitrolite. Stunning but rediculous to clean...

Ok Pat, I know it isn't quite the same, but this reminds me of 4 networked laptops around a 4 square foot table in a circa 50s apartment with a gravity flush toilet, a washing machine hooked to the bathtub and a stove with a secret code .

Here's one from my sample box Erik. It has a lot of gold on it. The best thing for you to do is experiment and see what you come up with. This one was made with fast size and a sea sponge, as well as inks, asphaltum and one shot. I used some skewings as well as some copper leaf and full sheets of go...

Pat do you know of any supply or substitute for that type of glass? I haven't heard from Dasa, but I plan on contacting her Erik. Thanks for the link, I emailed them, hopefully they can help.

Thanks bud, I'll likely see what I can source out in Canada and secondly in the US before I start looking in Europe. If I end up looking in Europe maybe Dasa can help me seeing as how it is her home town I took the pictures in.
What a great time we had, eh? I'm missing it all.

While in Kamenicky Senov, Czech Republic, I took the time to visit a quaint and very beautiful cemetery. I was surprised to see that most of the headstones contained black glass plates with the names sandblasted and sometimes leafed in them. I've been approached to do some work for a cemetery and th...

pretty amazing work concidering one of them is only a few years old huh? I think that is funny, Doug. With all the modern technology and access to information, are you really most amazed at the recreation? Not to in any way knock the talents of whom ever recreated it, but the original artist holds ...

Always interested Doug. :) I kind of jumped in to get things started, sometimes people here are pretty reserved. My guess was pretty much a shot in the dark. It's pretty hard to tell from the pictures you posted, but to me the shadows seemed stronger in the right panel and the compressed S's didn't ...

We call those banner holders Erik. :P :wink: Even if you do sandblast, the oxide layer starts to reform even after a few minutes, the acid in etch primer penetrates that layer, however your best bet for stainless steel is a red oxide primer as regular etching primers are not strong enough to etch st...

Looks like a well done job from this distance.
I'll bite. From L-R, restored, original, recreated.

I love your enthusiasm. One thing about you Erik, when you decide you are going to do something, nothing holds you back, I admire that. )
Congratulations on your very first Acid Toned panel, I look forward to seeing what lies ahead.

Hey Erik, I think this is worth less than they are asking but more than anyone is willing to pay. :P Seriously though, I don't believe you can really put a price tag on something like that. It all comes down to how many want it and how bad. Now if you can find a hidden picture of Jesus in it it will...

Thanks guys,
I'll try and get a Picassa web album together over the weekend and post a link on the forums. Right now I have some serious catching up to do!

Just a word of warning if you project, any uneveness in the depth of the surface you are painting will resullt in distortion which may not be as apparent when projecting or painting but will jump out at you after you step back when the job is done.

Although I was reluctant to leave the Czech Republic (Europe agrees with me), I am glad to be home, it's funny how such a short period can alter your perception so much. I don't doubt that after a few weeks here, the stress levels will escalate once more as I try to deal with the spring rush, but fo...

One other option if you have access to a vinyl cutter would be to use vinyl letters to lay out your text and then trace around the outside with a pencil. I find it easier to use the letters rather than the negative stencil when working on rough surfaces. Alternately if the place you are lettering is...

You were so right Dave! Last weekend we took in the Mucha museum and the Museum of Decorative Arts. Both were fantastic. I had been warned that I might be disappointed by the Mucha Museum but I wasn't at all. It gave me goosebumps to see the original pen and ink and watercolours of the posters and i...

Prague in itself is an incredible visual feast. Walking the cobblestone streets between Erik and Pat makes me feel as if I am between the covers of an encyclopedia. I've learned so much from doing the museums with them. I have taken over 1000 pictures, many which will need to be culled because I'm j...

I thought some of you might enjoy seeing this.

These guys have some interesting patterns.

This one looks appealing. Smokey Blue and Copper on Silver

What I associate with failure on clears are chalking, yellowing, blistering, peeling, and crackling, caused by weather extremes, sun damage, incompatability, pollution, cleaning etc. Will the salt water soak prove longevity against any of them? Laboratories use sophisticated systems to expose materi...

Signcraft had a very good 4 part series by Raymond Chapman on beginning handlettering. I'm not sure of the dates but if anyone is interested I'm sure Raymond could tell us or I could go through my copies and find out.

Well thanks for the explanation guys. It still doesn't make sense to me but thats OK.

Hi Ismael, I am curious as to the reasoning behind testing an interior (or any for that matter) clear under saltwater. Unless the clear is to be used under saltwater, it seems like it would not be a true representation of it's durability. The piece will be exposed to air, UV, abraision, possibly cle...

And a Merry Christmas back to you and your lovely family, as well as all the other folks that frequent here who have left their imprint on my life. May 2010 be prosperous, healthy and joyfull to you all!
Love Kelly

Has anyone got a picture of a finished piece from the October workshop? I'd like to see.

Hi Scott,
I flew into Cedar Rapids in September. It's lovely country. Were you involved in the Belle Plaine WallDog event?
Does this look familiar? I loved the light on the stands of Pampus grass in late afternoon.

Hi Doug, Something here may or may not help: Go to the C:\Windows\fonts folder and view details. Sort the view by file size and check for any fonts with a zero byte size. If you find any, delete them; the fonts are corrupted. There are several ways to test for font corruption on the Macintosh. Befor...

Well see here fellows...I get the feeling that you really don't want to be responsible for putting money in the coffers of scoundrels. Are you going to cut off your noses to spite your faces? In my opinion that piece of glass carries a precious bond between a lot of you fellows. 15 of you that have ...

Just wanted to comment on the Chris Pye videos. They are a pleasure to watch and very concise and clear. I did find it interesting that he endorsed cooling your chisels in water while you shape them on the grindstone, although he warns about not letting them get too hot. He also does all his shaping...