Clay Work

Eleanor and I have been collaborating on maritime ceramic sculptures. I started by making boats in wood for her clay figures and have recently changed to clay as well. It is in the early stages but we have finished a number of pieces and have shown a few in our Florida gallery to good response. It has been a nice complement to our daily painting.

Bread Winner

Trophy

Eleanor's latest, awaiting glaze and fire

 

'Boatbuilding' in clay

Chilly

Snow is melting fast today. It's in the 50s (F) and probably won't last long. It dumped around 6" of powder this past week and over in the Urbanna area, where Annie lives, there was a bit less. Vera and John sent me this pic and said that the tarp "was doing its job". Thank you both for your help.... there is nothing quite like good friends.

A Drascombe's Rudder

I partially disassembled Annie' rudder/ tiller assembly to varnish the tiller and inspect. It is a somewhat different beast when compared to other small boat equipment. In most Drascombe boats- Luggers, Longboats, Coasters- the rudder slides down through a thin well and out the bottom. The configuration affords the mizzen mast and the outboard an amidships position. It does take getting used to.

I made a small, teak, slotted wedge to slip under the pivot section of the rudder when raised in shallow water. The heavy rod portion is covered in split PVC pipe and a thick sleeve bushing keeps the bronze rudder head from grinding in to the deck plate.

It all went back together and its off to the next pre-season task...

stainless steel 'knock-up' rudder

bronze rudder head assembly that accepts the tiller

rudder in raised position

'self-steering'

Shine is fine, but so too funk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Work

Spending these cold days in the studio with the stove cranking out heat. I need to work hard to have work ready for the spring season. Forging ahead...

Early Morning Still
acrylic on canvas  24 x 30
© Curtis Bowman 2015

and if you are interested in a custom boat portrait, send me a note...    hbdgcurt@yahoo.com