Creative Endeavors Blog by Bridgette Mongeon

Want your own 3d printer? Cool hobby

2009-12-19T12:22:00.000-08:00

Open source. Watch this grown. No pun inteded!

check out this artists work. The avatar sculpts in zbrush

2009-12-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

check out this artists work. The avatar sculpts in zbrush http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=079195 I was on the zbrush web site and found this. So cool to look at. I especially like seeing the people reference!

3d printing in paper?

2009-12-19T07:19:00.000-08:00

A wonderful link for MCOR. MCOR is a Swiss company who has created a 3d printer that will print in paper. For those who know about 3d printing the cost of the materials going through the printer is a great expense. But in the case of paper, that is not as expensive.

A great book on 3d printing

2009-12-19T06:56:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to tell you about a book that has really helped me in my graduate studies. I hesitated in purchasing it because it was a little on the high side and the binding and photograph shown did not really make me feel confident in the contents of the book, but don’t let that fool you. Ed Grenda really knows his stuff, and I don’t think there is anything about 3d printing that is not in here. As long as he keeps up with the technology with further editions I would say it is a must for the shelf of any person interested in 3d printing. Plus his web site has numerous articles and boo koos of information. ( it also does not look very professional but don’t click away too soon. It has a wealth of information.) I was privileged to talk to Ed last week about some of my questions and my own research and he gave me some wonderful leads, which I will be sure to pass on here.

I also invited him to let me interview him for a podcast, should we decide to start up the art podcasts and talk about 3d, ( Which I am very excited about.). Anyway. Thumbs up on this book. I would highly recommend it.

The Upside Down Christmas Party

2009-12-19T06:32:00.001-08:00

I failed to post about the Upside Down Christmas Party. There were quite a few different groups of people but there was much fun had by all. Christina Sizemore- My daughter showed her artwork, and you know there is always sculpture in my studio, along with my God's Word Collectible series. Plus the loft was opened up for 3d people to show their work. Though all they really did was come upstairs and eat cookies. My favorite part of the evening.. the fire pit that my family bought me and we broke in and singing with friends.

And of course as many of you know we ask you all to help decorate our tree with something on your person, in your car or found. Here are some new ones. ( the watch is from a soldier. I can't believe he put his watch on the tree. He is home on leave and headed back soon.)

I think we will have to have another one next year.

Wonderful conversations- ton of info

2009-12-19T06:26:00.001-08:00

Last week Bob Wood from ex one put together a conference call between the following people and myself. As Bob put it.
The purpose of the call is to attempt to answer as many questions as we can for Bridgette who is researching information for a book that she is writing. I have had many conversations with her over the last year or so and she has toured our Houston RCT jobshop. To paraphrase what she is trying to ascertain from us is how a traditional sculptor can migrate into the electronic design and manufacturing world. As all of us know, it took us years to figure this out. Bridgette is trying to define the process so that traditional artists can become productive without having to go through a painful learning curve that may cause them to shy away from this technology.

HE knows me well. Though he also failed to say.I have pitched a second book idea, am writing articles on these subjects and a good deal of my graduate studies is around the process. On the phone were the following people. It was so great to chat with these very knowledgeable people. It was also good to be around 3D people who, when I told them that I wanted to get designs out of the computer did not say, "why do you want to do that?"

Bridgette Mongeon – Sculptor, Artist, Author
www.creativesculpture.com
Houston, TX

Chuck Gailey – 3D Designer, Architect- designer, Artist
www.otbdesignworks.com
Whitefish, MT

Gabriel Obregon – 3D Artist, Freeform designer
www.hybrid-learning.com
Pittsburgh, PA

Mike Orange – Prometal Production Manager
www.prometal.com
Irwin, PA

Bob wood

All I can say is I wish I would have recorded this meeting. You all know I have been doing Chistian podcasts for a while. Don't be surprised if you begin to also see some art podcasts posted here. I have everything set up for podcasts and my spotonradio.com station has another channel. Now all I need is the time.

A bit of trivia about bronze

2009-12-18T13:51:00.001-08:00

I was wondering what is the composite of the bronze that my pieces are cast in. My foundry says.

They use everdur bronze.

Alloy number 8 7 3

95% copper
4 silicone
1% manganese
developed during the second world war for the navy.

Prior to that something called 85-5-5 -5 was used, but it is not used now because it does not hold up with acid rain etc. It consisted of
85 copper
5 percent zinc
5 percent tin
5 percent lead

Watch video of Eintseine Robot

2009-11-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

A video about an interactive robto of Albert Einstein from Hanson Robotics Texas I would like to remind you that the Facial Action Coding system mentioned in this article is from the research of Psychologist Paul Eckman.

I studied emotion as it pertains to art, and sculpture as my undergraduate study. It is good to see this man's work being used and recognized. If you watch the show Lie to Me then you might also be familiar with the work of Paul Eckman.

So cool to see all of this come together. Also check out the link to Hanson Robotics in Texas.

Watch Video- Robots are becoming more and more life like. -

2009-11-25T10:01:00.000-08:00

" Jules is a Conversational Character Robot designed and built by David Hanson. Jules is Ai, made with a light weight material called Frubber™ , which enables his/her face to be mobile and expressive. Jules runs on batteries and was commissioned by the UWE with a statistically perfect androgynous face.
Go to HANSONROBOTICS.COM to learn more" From you tube informationSorry if this months page takes a long time to load, so many interesting videos to share.

Learning about retoplogizing. An excellent video!

2009-11-23T19:10:00.000-08:00

Subdivision Topology: Artifacts from The Guerrilla CG Project on Vimeo.

Can I really digitally print in metal?

2009-11-22T14:22:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent video that discusses Powder Metallurgy.

I know it seems like it is something that is not afforadable not doable for the average person. But shapeways is making this connection to the common artist, the every day guy. Check out this video

And their prices are extremely affordable. http://www.shapeways.com/

3D camp Houston was a success. Next year bigger and better.

2009-11-16T11:02:00.000-08:00

It was last Wednesday that my husband invited me to the 3D modelers and animators meetup. I was interested in the presentation on Zbrush by Johannes Huber.

It was there that I met David Morris. David told me about a project he had been working on for just 8 weeks. It was a 3D camp, planned for this past weekend. He envisioned a place where people could get together and talk about 3D. My husband Mike delaflor and I jumped on board.

David was doing exactly what I wanted to do. I had actually been thinking about this for a year. I was going to do it this fall, but instead decided to perhaps make it a part of my graduate practicum. I had already talked to Next Engine, who have some wonderful affordable desk top scanners. Ex One who you have seen in previous posts. I have been contacting them about their direct metal printing and last month I went to see there printing sandcasting Molds. Ex One said when I was ready to get this going they would try to get Shapeways on board. For those of you who don't know about Shapeways they are affordable service bureau for 3d digital printing, and they too are now offering digital printing in metal!

My goal was to get some vendors there and also offer some informative lectures on different processes of 3D. Well David did just that with 3D camp. I’m so excited and totally impressed with this young man. I think you will see this 3D camp grow in the up and coming years. I’m looking forward to presenting next year, and hopefully get the above vendors to demonstrate.

This year I demonstrated the 3D scanner, though I must say it was a crowded area and hard to get a good scan with so many people bumping the table. Still I get was able to sing the praises of this scanner that we are reviewing and using in our up and coming book, Digital Sculpting with Mudbox: Essential Tools and Techniques For Artists.

I also had this video playing and my article that I wrote for Sculpture Review on digital printing and milling where I talked about the incredible advances of Synappsys digital printing and their Data Direct to Mold process that is being used on The American.

My vantage point of 3D is coming from a traditional studio and using it to create traditional art. I suppose my focus then is a bit different than the traditional 3D artist. My graduate studies at Goddard- A Master of Fine Arts In Interdisciplinary Arts is based upon bridging the gap between the traditional and the digital studio. That is my interest. Though I have to admit, programs like Mudbox and Z brush are very intriguing and I expect I will be using them much more in the future. Oh no am I converting? Still I like the clay under my nails and my heart longs for dirty hands.

I encourage others to get involved with 3D camp next year, and plan on attending. I’m expecting it will double if not triple in size with a year of planning, some more backers, and some good promotion. If you would like to be a sponsore, If you are interested in presenting or are a vendor that would like to show at 3D camp next year please feel free to contact me or David.

Great job David!

Some of my favorite things there revolve around output. This is a home made cnc router machine. To check it out further go to http://buildyourcnc.com/default.aspx

Many seemed to be interested in what a fine artist had to say in a 3D camp.

Another of my favorite had to again deal with output. It is the homemade 3D printer. This one is called the cupcake, and I must show that it can print a cupcake. I believe the cupcake costs about 700. to put together. There is another homemade one that I want to investigate but it costs approximately 3,000. Kind of steep to do for a hobby or to check out, but this other can print ceramic and chocolate, something worth investigating. I plan on reviewing all of these home made machines in an upcoming article.

3d Printing in ceramic!

2009-11-11T16:07:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to working with Solheim Rapid Prototyping/ Rapid Manufacturing Lab at the University of Washington's Mechanical Engineering Department, collaborating and certainly want to add their process to the new book that I intend to write, my articles and a lecture. I love seeing video and am certainly glad that this was created. I will be trying to contact them on their process and new technology and will be sure to let you know what comes from that.

For students about entering an art show, and Culture Shapers.

2009-11-03T05:49:00.000-08:00

A Great Judging Day at Culture Shapers

Everything was a buzz yesterday at judging. It is good to see the other judges, all in different field but seasoned professionals and some old friends. They all take their judging very seriously and everyone is impressed with the quality of work that comes to Culture Shapers each year. One new judge expressed his impressions over the well-run and very large process that is done by Culture Shapers.

If you think that seeing the final show is inspiring, you should see how much incredible work is there on judging day. There is so much work and many very incredible pieces that never make the final cut. You have heard me say over the years that judging is, many times very subjective. It depends on the judges and their personal likes, their background and training, etc. There were some pieces that I would have liked to advance but I could not.

Suggestions
I always try to add these suggestions to students.

Use the forms provided. Gives us information. Sometimes the information or description that is provided can change a judges view of a piece. For example, if you submitted something in photography and it was developed in a dark room, you should mention that. Or if you were trying to express a certain emotion or were inspired by something tell us!

Go to the extra effort and time in presenting. If you have a great sculpture and it is poorly mounted, it will show and may change our vote for your piece.

Don’t cut corners when creating. When you feel you are tired of your artwork, walk away and come back to it. Rushing through art shows in the finished product. It is better to give the art your full attention until it comes to completion.

It may be too late for you to use some of these suggestion this year, but do pay attention to them next year, and for all the shows that you enter.

Judging Process
For those not familiar with the process of judging here is a quick run down.

Each judge ( there are three judges) is given 20 yellow post-its. We walk around the show and place the slips on those piece that we like and that we think should advance to the next round. If another judge has put a post-it on a piece then I might not put mine there. Many times we agree on what should advance and then I hand in extra post-its. If it did not advance there are a few reasons.

It did not compare to the quality of work that we had seen.

You may have not done some of my suggestions that I mentioned earlier.

It got lost amongst the other work. I sculpture this happens a lot. I am so glad there are three judges. Smaller pieces or those that just happened to be placed in a dark area of the room might not get a judges attention.

It may be a part of school project and there are several pieces that look like yours. It is hard to judge these, unless it is spectacular and really stands out.

Then we are given five pink post-its. We can only place these on the pieces that have yellow ones on them already. Oh this year I walked back and forth between two pieces that I liked, one was with a bird cage and hand and the other was i think titled “Heaven and Hell.” I put it on one and I was so sorry I did not have two pink slips. It was then that I noticed that another judge had marked another one that I had liked. I asked permission to move my pink slip and that allowed me to advance both of these pieces.

Then the pieces are lined up. We are then given our slips of paper that we write our comments on. I must interject, if you have come this far your work is superior. The forms however give us a numbering system and the words “below average, average, etc.” I hate this and cross them off of my sheet. I wish Culture Shapers would delete them. For us judges it is just a numbering system and should not be called “below average.” As I said, if you have made it this far that term should not be used. Now this is my opinion and I hope one day to have those off of the forms. Anyway... We go through and look at each piece. I love this part. I get to sit down and become familiar with your work, to really examine it. This is where you can sway me by your quality, and words. Each judge hands in their numbered pages and we go to lunch and wait for them to add them up and them put them in numerical order.

We are not aloud to speak to each other until the final round- after all the artwork is lined up. This is an essential part of judging, especially in sculpture. Many times there are many different mediums. I count on my fellow judges to point out details, difficulties and intricacy in each of their favorite pieces. Pieces can be moved on this final table but only three spots. Usually judges agree. Sometimes they fight for their pieces- your artwork. But it is all still friendly.

In all I loved the choices. Of course in other categories there were some pieces that where last in the finals that I would have put first, but that is again subjective and my own opinion. There was a discussion between us artists if photographs should be used allowed to be used in the drawing section of the show. Some judges were passionate about not allowing photographs. I think they want students to draw from life. I however think using photographs is very good and I know many professional artists that would agree, in fact, both my husband in his work and many other illustrators and artists use photographs as reference. We often take our own photography so that we can get the proportions, lighting etc just right. I’ll even ask my husband, “ Can you strike this pose?” Or he will ask me. Can you hold this medical instrument. For us photography is part of the process. But again that tells how different artists and judges are.

I want to encourage each of you to continue working on your art. For those who want suggestions or critiques or whatever. Please feel free to contact me, but... do not send me anything that you think you might enter in the show in the sculpture category next year as it will have to be disqualified. You can find me on Facebook, check out my websites— Fine art , God's Word Collectible Gift Line. I have also started podcasting and have a new section of the podcasts called Creative Christians. We will be interviewing famous creative Christians. For those interested you can find a list of the podcasts here Or you can listen to them from the God’s word Collectibles Facebook Fans page.

Oh yes, be sure to check out my blog on my website, as I often post articles about Culture Shapers. Last year I also wrote an article about the winners at Best of Artists and Artisans column.

I’m a genius! 3D Printing of the Human Organs?

2009-10-28T16:37:00.000-07:00

I’m a genius, or maybe my brain just thinks such radical thoughts that now and again I think like a genius. For those of you who don’t know, my graduate study at Goddard College consists of research that bridges the gap between the traditional studio and new technology. For a sculptor, such as myself, this technology is based on something that I call tradigi sculpting which utilizes both traditional and digital means to create artwork. My research is evaluating digital milling. Digital milling is taking my artwork, scanning it and then enlarging or reducing it to be milled out in foam, wood or stone. Digital printing is another resource and a technology that is quickly growing and changing. It is when a computer and a digital printing machine slowly prints, layer by layer, in 3d. What you end up with is a physical object. Yes, I know it sounds like the replicating machines on Star Trek, but this is not science fiction.

Recently I uncovered the work of both Sebastien Dion from the Center for Applied Technology at Bowling Green University in Ohio and Solheim Rapid Manufacturing Laboratory at the University of Washington in Seattle. Both have been researching and printing in ceramic. Solheim has even printed their ceramic “recipe” in the Ceramic Arts Daily, February 1, 2009, article “The Printed Pot.”

As my research continues, I thought, “It appears that 3D digital printing is all about having the right “recipe”. It is just coming up with the correct binder and the correct material to fuse.” This is where my brain started to go into genius mode and my research landed on what I’m about to share. I know that Science is using 3D printing to help them visualize scientific data. For example space physics simulations or molecular models that help scientists visualize proteins. This allows scientists a way to examine information in a physical way that has never been available to them prior to 3D printing. (http://www.ualberta.ca/CNS/3DPRINTER/project.sampler.html)

Science is also using 3D printing to print a medical implant that fits perfectly with a patient. The reason is that it is created from MRI scan data of a patient. ) Surgeons can also use 3D printing to help them with their surgeries. By having the physical replica of a patient they can practice surgery or see complications. 3D prints are also used in education. How about printing skin in a 3D digital printer? Just think what this would mean to a burn victim. Or how about replicating a bone with 3d printing? And doing so out of bone material to replace a patient’s own shattered bone? Because our bodies are symmetrical a left arm bone could be recreated by using images of the right arm.

If all of this technology and 3D printing is not fascinating enough, I thought, “If it takes just the right binder and recipe, is it possible to print organs?” I was afraid to even say it out loud to my husband, a medical illustrator, who I knew would at least hear my crazy idea and not laugh too hard. But with further research, I turned out not to be so mad after all. Indeed 3D organ printing is happening or at least being studied. Here are some journal articles and videos to prove it. This is absolutely fascinating! Just check out the video with Dr. Gabor Forgacs, University of Missouri-Columbia. He talks about how the bio printer prints out living cell clusters drop by drop that fuse together to create tissue structures. Have a damaged organ? One day they will be able print out the organ needed and do it using your cells! Perhaps the printer will print within your own body cavity. Yes, there is still some headway to be made with this technology, but the technology is here and on it’s way. My crazy thinking is actually genius!

Learning new information to share with others.

2009-10-25T17:06:00.000-07:00

I have been very busy working on the Mudbox book. I have also pitched a second book all on my graduate studies of 3D digital printing, milling and scanning as it pertains to the traditional art studio. I'll let you know as soon as the publisher bites. Meanwhile it is on to finishing the Mudbox book and continuing my studies and research. I have found some great videos on a wonderful site called Guerilla CG. I would highly recommend it.

The Polygon from The Guerrilla CG Project on Vimeo.

Since I am now working on retopologizing and writing about that huge word. This video was important to me. As you will learn, quads are better than triangles when it comes to sculpting or animating. So I am learning how to take my artwork that is scanned and retopologize it so that I can change it in Mudbox and then print it out. I have an article about the scanning process that should be coming out soon on my Best of Artists and Artisan's Sculpture column. I'll be sure to put the link here when it comes out. Now back to research.

Our Interviews with Creative Christians.

2009-10-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

For those of you who do not know, besides sculpting and writing I also create a podcast that is sponsored by my God's Word Collectible gift line. Inspirations/Generations has added a new segment called Inspirations Creative Christians. We are interviewing creative Christians to learn about their faith, process, inspiration and other things. You can find all of our podcasts on the God's Word Collectibles website . Or on our God's Word Collectibles Facebook Fans page.

Here is a description of our first Creative Christians podcasts. If you would like to listen, just click on the links.

October 2009
Creative Christian Interview- Brad Stine Part 2
Christian Comedian Brad Stine talks about his creativity as a child, his creative process and the importance of creativity in the Body of Christ Part 2 (Inspirations_Creative Christians 0045 45 minutes)

Creative Christians Interview- Brad Stine Part 1
Christian Comedian Brad Stine talks about his creativity as a child, his creative process and the importance of creativity in the Body of Christ Part 2 (Inspirations_Creative Christians 0045 31 minutes)

September
Creative Christian Interview- Strand of Pearls
Kellie Copeland Swisher has been a creative Christian her entire life— working at Kenneth Copeland Ministries, making movies, developing children’s curriculum and her recent creative endeavor of Blue Grass Gospel singing group Strand of Pearls. In this interview she shares her thoughts on creativity and her inspiration. (Inspirations_00043 55.47 minutes)

July
Creative Christians- interview with actor, speaker and award winning author Donna VanLier
This is the first podcast of a new series called Creative Christians. Here we will interview many different individuals on their creativity process, their faith and the struggles and inspiration. The first creative Christians Segment is with Donna VanLiere Speaker, actress and award winning author. (Inspirations_0037 43 minutes)

3D printing in ceramic! So cool!

2009-10-20T17:17:00.000-07:00

Too cool 3D printing in ceramics! Yes. I love this idea. I love where the technology is going. Check out Ceramic Arts Daily article The Printed Pot. Solheim is on my list for interviews.

3d printing in sand and metal!

2009-09-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

I was invited by Bob wood to the proMetal shop here in Houston. We have another engagement for Bob to come to the studio as soon as my schedule frees up a bit.

I was thrilled to be able to see the process of printing in sand. Yes, there you have it... 3D printing in sand! As usual this technology was first developed for manufacturing as you see by this casting of this fly wheel thing.

The sand is like the investment cast on the mold. and it is printed in this huge machine that Bob wood and I are standing in front of. If this process can be perfected to get smooth surfaces it can really take over the investment casting of bronze casting. The lost wax method would literally be history, and there would be no more storing all of those molds! YEAH TO THAT! plus once the art is computerized it could be made to fit piece to piece. In other words, the seams would be put together like a puzzle. in the computer aiding in the welding together. So cool. The possibilities of this are incredible.

I'm also putting some pictures up of their 3D digital printing in metal. This is another part of of the company. The skull was created that way. Yes, they say they can print in bronze or gold! I'll be describing this process in an up and coming book.

I have to get through the Mudbox book first. But am chomping at the bit about starting this other book. It will cover all of the new technology of output from the computer, as well as getting items into the computer— Digital scanning. So excited!

Television coverage of the unveling of the Newsboy suclpture.

2009-09-05T08:57:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to the television coverage on the Newsboy sculpture.

Recent media on the Newsboy Sculpture

2009-09-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here is the recent media on the new newsboy sculpture in kennewick Washington.

'Newsboy' sculpture unveiled

By Dori O'Neal, Herald staff writer September 4, 2009

Tim Dalton, executive director of the Downtown Kennewick Merchants Association, helps reveal the new downtown sculpture Newsboy on Thursday at the corner of Dayton Street and Kennewick Avenue.

When it comes to hawking newspapers, the first thing most people think of is the paperboy from yesteryear.

You know the one. He sported a Gatsby hat and wool knickers and stood on street corners waving the latest edition while hollering, "Extra! Extra! Read all about it!"

The Downtown Kennewick Merchants Association thought the same thing and paid homage to that historic newsboy by adding its latest public sculpture -- aptly titled Newsboy -- to the corner of Dayton Street and Kennewick Avenue.

The unveiling was Thursday and kicked off Kennewick's monthly art walk festivities.

The 4-foot-tall bronze was created by artist Bridgette Mongeon of Texas. She has two other similar newsboy sculptures on display in Austin, Texas, and in North Carolina, said Tim Dalton, executive director of the merchants association.

"We wanted to add a piece of public art like this to our collection because of the historic aspect the newspaper has played here for many, many years," Dalton said.

The statue is a block south of the Tri-City Herald which has been in downtown Kennewick since 1948, when it moved into a former cannery.

The sculpture depicts a young man holding a newspaper high over his head. The newspaper's flag reads "Tri-City Herald" above the top story about a Grapefest celebration.

"Grapefest started in 1910," Dalton said. "It's not the most continuous festival in the Tri-Cities but it is the oldest so it seemed appropriate to have it be the lead story on the newspaper."

Several dozen people gathered Thursday for the unveiling as Mark Blotz, president of the downtown association, touted the volunteerism that went into the planning of the project.

Nicole Stewart, 33, lives across the street from the sculpture's new home and likes the idea of having a piece of art to look at from her kitchen window each day.

"It's truly awesome," she said. "Not many places offer this kind of outdoor art."

Brothers Daxton, 6, and Clayton Doty, 11, thought the sculpture was cool, but didn't find it inspiring enough to sign up for a paper route, they said.

The sculpture cost $22,000. About $10,000 was raised by the merchant association through fundraisers. The Herald donated $3,500 with several businesses and private citizens donating the rest, Dalton said.

Blotz hopes to see every corner in downtown Kennewick with a piece of public art one day. The downtown area now has eight pieces.

"To have one on every corner would be wonderful," he said. "We'll see how it goes."

My Precious Mom and Cohost- Now Resides in Heaven- Press Release for God's Word Collectibles

2009-09-02T09:25:00.000-07:00

We are saddened that Barbara Ingersoll, one of the cohosts of the Inspiration/Generations Podcast that was known as Graham and was mother to cohost Bridgette Mongeon, grandmother to cohost Christina Sizemore, has gone to be with the Lord. Barbara was getting quite a following since the conception of the podcasts in 2008. The podcasts were born out of fervent prayer between the three women.

Barbara reports in one of the first podcasts, “Four years ago I fell and broke both of my hips so that has put an end to physically active ministry for me, but though I am in my 70’s and disabled, it does not put an end to the work of the Holy Spirit through me or through anyone really. That is one of the reasons why I wanted to do this podcast because I can’t do active ministry, but I can do this, talking on the phone and that is easy for me.”

Barbara suffered from osteoarthritis and several other ailments through her life. She lived almost every day of her life in pain, yet God sustained her and strengthened her faith. The three women discussed just before Barbara’s death that the Generational podcast can continue through the many journals that Barbara has written over her lifetime. In one of the last entries Barbara states, “ I proclaim to all the earth and all powers and principalities that these are healing podcasts —no matter where you are in your walk with the Lord… However far you have come in your journey.”

Before her passing Barbara participated in over 38 podcasts. Her last interview was with Ruth Graham, together they talked about healing hurting women. That was a yearning for Barbara throughout her entire life. In her younger days she developed support groups for hurting women and then trained leaders for support groups. She did this throughout western New York and Canada. The transition from life to life everlasting held its own blessings and are recorded in a podcast titled “What happens at Death.” Where the two cohosts report on the conversations and visitations that their mom and grandmother had from those who went before her. This part of death was a touching and healing process for all. On Thursday Augusts 20, 2009 a memorial service was held for Barbara. This too has also been added to this list of podcasts as her life and ministry were celebrated by many.

There is nothing more honoring for Barbara’s life to have her ministry continue to help women. To have her past, her fortitude and struggles make a difference in someone else’s life. We ask that you continue to pray for the Inspiration/Generations podcast, become a regular listener and share the links with others.

You can find the podcast at http://www.godsword.net and read the bios of the hosts. The site tells you how to subscribe in Itunes. You can also find the podcasts on the Gods’ Word Facebook Fans page.

If you would like to make a donation to the Inspiration/Generations podcast ministry you can do so through the secure servers at Pay Pal or by sending a check to God's Word Collectible Sculptures Inspirations/Generations Podcast PO Box, 10562, Houston, Texas 77206. We would also like to encourage you to support our sponsor. God's Word Collectibles.

The newsboy will ship in the morning!

2009-07-21T12:34:00.000-07:00

Today was the day that we put color on the life-size newsboy sculpture that is headed to Kennewick ,Washington. As I mentioned craters and freighters, the shipping company is picking it up in the morning.

The color on a bronze is referred to as the Patina. This sculpture has a traditional patina.

The client asked to see all of the papers that we created representing the Tri City Herald. There are some under the newsboys arm, one in his right hand and a stack at his feet. All have the headline and masthead of the client's newspaper.

Upon arriving the sculpture has been sand blasted. It looks less shiny than it did when we were here just last week. The sculpture, once sand blasted is ready to receive the patina.

To create the patina the foundry man first heats up the sculpture and then sprays and brushed on different chemicals. He will rub back areas that are supposed to be lighter. I like to alternate color, shoes dark, socks light, pants dark, shirt light etc. Though once placed outdoors the traditional patina will continue to darken. The foundry puts a protective coat of lacquer on the sculpture one the entire patina is complete.

I'm including some close ups of the detail in the shoe. Yes, it is a sculpted shoe. And my signature and copyright on the piece is in the inside of the newspaper that the young man is holding under his arm. Of course there are other things in the newspapers that carry a story, but that is for another post.

Tomorrow the sculpture is crated and shipped. I can't wait to see the newsboy placed.

What is a metal check?

2009-07-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

In the very last stage of the foundry process the foundry will call me in for a metal check. I go over the sculpture looking for any imperfections in the metal and marking them with a marker. Of course the Fine Arts Foundry of Texas does a wonderful job. Miguel is a great worker and I trust him with my work implicitly. But I still give a once over. The next step is to patina or color the metal. That is scheduled for Tuesday and then the sculpture is off to Kennewick Washington through my shipping company Craters and Freighters. In 6-8 working days it will be there. Here are some photographs from today's visit. One of the best workers in the foundry industry Miguel and his boss and owner of Fine Arts Foundry of Texas, Scott Yoast.