[mark yundt]

I had posted these before as I was doing the casts and molds for them but was asked earlier today how they are coming along.They are a "work in progress",,,but they are in the process of "finishing",,and they are really "off topic",,so where this actually belongs as far as posts are concerned with these three headings is anyones guess,,if you want to move it that's fine with me,,, I'm lost as it is. Anyway,, these are the final fiberglass shells that I base coated with gold paint,,,and then used gold leaf to finish them off.The two that are dull looking are in the paint only,, the others are the gold leaf,,quite a difference,,especially seeing them in person.The sizes of these are 8 ft and 10 ft for the drops,, and the swags are 2 ft across and 3 ft high.I should have them installed ( and post some pics ) before Easter,,and I have to finish the tabernacle stand and faux marble that as well,,O.K. time to really get cracking,,I've doodled with this long enough.

[Ashbys]

Mark,
I think work in progress is a good place for this. I know it isn't excatly wood carving , but I do think that there are many things which wood carving does involve that today , understand can give great insite towards other parts of carving.

They look great by the way, I am glad I asked to see them. Your castings formed very well. And they look like the finish is really going to make them look great for many years to come.

Garry

[BobD]

And as great as Mark's photos are, you don't really get a feel for them until you see them in person...they are VERY impressive!!!

Bob

[Thor]

Thanks for showing those to us in this stage Mark. They will really be impressive when they are in place.
I've always used a contrasting color underneith the gilding. Mostly red clay colored. Never seen gold paint used under leaf. Are you going to antique it at all to accent the details? or just let it age?
Thor

[mark yundt]

Thanks everyone.Thor, I too usually use a red color under the guilding as well since this can and does affect the final look of the gold.Two things I had to consider here though.One ,,they wanted them bright,,the gold base ( as well as using white or yellow ) would give me that. And two,,with all the nooks and crannies as well as the coarsness of the casts in these deeper recesses I didn't think I could get an even application of the leaf in these areas.If I didn't get the coverage ( which I now know I couldn't have gotten) blotchy areas of red would have kept popping up all over and would have made them look very uneven and sloppy.With them at this point ,should they decide they are TOO bright looking ,It would be a simple matter to air brush in a bit of color in select places to add some suggestions of a different base or give them a bit of an antiqued look.Though shadows ,,once they are hung may add more to them as well.Since this is "Dutch Gold" there may be a bit of color shift,but in the use of 23K gold no change would occur.

[mark yundt]

Here is the final resting place for the swags and drops. On Saturday I built the tabernacle stand and on Sunday I faux marbled it,actually got to do some carving in making the ogee and cove mouldings (2"x2") instead of making cutters for them, and got it all installed on Monday.That new tabernacle by the way is 30 x30 x 42" high,weighs 300 lbs,set them back 60G's.For a reference to scale,,when I stand in front of those statues I come up to their feet,,this place is deceptively big.Years ago when they added all the marble columns and top,,which was done in Italy,,they found the peices were too tall,,rather than compromise the scale,,they cut the roof off the church and raised it another 15 ft.

[mdallensr]

Wow! That is an incredible accomplishment. I can't imagine doing that in a lifetime. Thanks for sharing. BTW, did you mean 42', not 42"? Mike

[Thor]

Wow Mark!
That scale dwarfs them! I understand now why 'bright is better' in this case of gilding.
Lovely work. I wish I could see it in person.
Thanks for showing them to us.
Thor

[mark yundt]

Thanks ,,I was referring to the tabernacle itself,,the last picture,,it is 42 inches high,,only two like it in the world from what I understand,,made in Spain.Yes Christina,,in this case brighter is better,,they'd get lost otherwise,,but you are correct,,in most cases the red oxide looking base is much more common and richer looking in color than the harshness that can be found in the way I chose to do these,,but I think in this case it worked out well. As far as scale goes,,these places can be deceptive. I recently carved a dove ( Holy Spirit) decending over an altar. The priest indicated it should be approx. 1 1/2 to 2 ft. wingspread,,he thought that would be a big enough piece,,I didn't think so,,,the whole thing ended up a bit over 6 ft wide,,3/4 relief bird out of basswood,painted with gilded rays.This stuff looks too big in my shop,,but almost dissappears in these types of spaces,,I love 'em..

I decided to add a shot of me holding one of the molds so you might get a better feel for them,,the originals are in the crates,,I'm holding the bigger one,,cool huh?

[doris]

hi mark ! what beautiful work you accomplished ! is exactely like what i admire here in germany churches... and you carved these. really wonderful... yes, these places are so high, and often i think is pity i cant get closer to the carvings...i love touch carvings (hihi, this has brought me into trouble more than once, but i cant help it, urge to touch is too big...)...congrateulations from me, you did great job ! and nice to see foto of you , too ;-)