Shadow Boxes (select image to enlarge)

I have always been fascinated with woodworking as well as art so I thought I would combine the two into a 3-dimensional painting using wood carving, sand, dyed sawdust, hot glue and other things to make it a true mixed media. It is a combination shadowbox and diorama and painted in acrylic. 

Sunset Beach

Palm trees and figure are hand carved. Land is wood putty on hardboard with sand and sawdust glued to simulate beach. Everything is painted in acrylic and water effect is made from a glue gun. Frame built from pine and painted.

 

The Hiker

Hand carved tree, hiker, backpack as well as bird and owl. Mountain and hills built up with wood putty. Grass and tree leaves is sawdust dyed with fabric dye. Waterfall is from glue gun and everything is painted with acrylic paint. Frame is built from pine and painted

 

Lion of Judah

First shadow box. Lion body build up on hardboard with wood putty. Lion fur is shades of different wood sawdust, Mane is wood shavings. Eyes are painted glue from glue gun. Rocks are from a dried-out box of wood putty that was broken up and painted to look like rocks. Frame is painted pine wood! Grass is painted rolled newspaper

Mountain bridge

I came up with this idea over a year ago. I built it over and over again in my head until I decided how to lay it out and what elements to put in it. I finally did a few rough sketches and finalized the concept with a basic drawing done on my pen tablet. Then about a month ago I built the wooden frame and began working on it. I cut the mountains out of wood and in order to make this large painting lighter I shaped foam into the two side cliffs and covered it with plaster of Paris. I hand-carved the bridge out of wood, stained and painted it and glued it on. I made the bonsai tree from wire, and clay. I made the pagoda and ladder out of wood, sculpt the garden lantern and two figurines out of clay then assembled and painted everything. I used train set scenery foliage from a hobby shop as well as some of my own dyed sawdust, Then I made the waterfall and water pool out of clear silicone calking and acrylic paint. I decided to illuminate it by adding hidden LED lights at the top. They run by a remote control and have a variety of colors and settings like dimmer, strobe and fade into different colors This has been a challenging creation but very satisfying in the end!

 

 

Reproduction canvas prints available at webstore!