Elisabeth Arzt

New Site!

2011-10-21T17:22:00.001-07:00

Check out my new website for Fine Arzt LLC, I will be actively updating my work and my travels!

--------> www.FineArzt.com <---------------

--------> www.FineArzt.com<---------------

--------> www.FineArzt.com <---------------

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Also on Twitter @ Fine_Arzt

Crafty Crafty

2011-10-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I have set out to participate in some craft fairs for one or two seasons. While I was carving this summer, I developed a love for cherry wood, both in large and small scale forms. I began to make jewelry pieces with the burl I set aside, as well as housewares (mirrors, etc) out of the larger pieces, and below are the results.

Cherry Burl Rings (aka Jupiter Rings):

I've always enjoyed rings with big ass stones, especially the ones you can stare into and get lost because of their intricate detail. Problem is, the bigger and more exotic the stone, the heavier and more expensive. Wood is a simple solution, it is light weight (in small doses) and is available in large quantities. I have been selling these rings for around $25 each, and the band is adjustable. Some of the burl "stones" are set in a copper backing, I also painted some of the backs of the "stones" a sky blue to give it a nice contrast to the copper and cherry. The cherry wood is finished with a clear glossy lacquer.

Maple Knot Rings (aka Knotty Rings)

These rings used the same set-up as the cherries. Some of the knots are kept intact and others are knots cut in half to reveal the intricate formations inside.

This ones my favorite, I think because it looks like a creature from Star Wars

Cherry Burl Pendants I made a few pendants, just to brighten things up. Recently I've been doing a lot of collaging, and I wanted to find a manner in which someone could wear these collages without them being overwhelmingly ginormous. All of these pieces are cherry wood, sealed in a clear glossy lacquer.

Let the collaging begin!

As I was sanding down some of the cavernous "burlier" pieces, they proved to be very fragile and fell apart easily. I could of cut the pieces thicker, but then it would just look like you had a giant piece of wood around you neck, not that it doesn't now, but the thinness of the pieces gives the illusion to an outsider that the pendant may be amber, or some other complex mineral. Anyway, I integrated my sewing skills with the art of woodcraft and created a merriment of contrasting materials, BRASS 'N BURL. They look fantastic together!

What's in the Briefcase? If you make a product, you should also consider what that product will traveling in. Something sturdy that will protect the fragile items you put so much time into. I also considered space and efficiency, the case needed to act as a carrying case as well as a display. I made this 3 tiers suitcase and covered it in images that I've collected over the years. I enjoy covering my stuff with more STUFF, including my car, my laptop, my phone, etc, I guess thats the way my mind works.

The Special Spoon It was my sister's birthday not too long ago, and she gave me the idea of making spoons. Its a big business, spoon makin', and what better kind of wood to use than cherry. It take a lot of time and patience to perfect the art of the spoon; you have to get the ladle to handle angle just right, how much scooping capacity will you endow in the ladle part, and how thick will the handle be. Its a complex art, let alone, science. I was very fortunate enough to find a deer antler lying around, it had a wispiness to it, and it fit snuggly into my hand (perfect handle material). This summer, my sister caught the cat-fishing bug, so I wanted to pay tribute to that. The antler is in the shape of a catfish fin and the ladle is cherry wood. I connected the two using a dowel and bit of wood glue and finished the cherry wood with some butcher's block wax.

She liked her present

Chairs

2011-07-24T18:51:00.000-07:00

I've sculpted two chairs out of whole beech tree trunks. To start, these were very large and heavy trunks and therefore took a considerable amount of time hollowing out. Its worth it because beech is a hardwood and super dense, therefore, with a coat of the right sealant, these chairs are going to be around for a long time.

Beech Chair: The form was not predetermined when I started carving. I knew I wanted a structure reminiscent of a maitake mushroom or the arum lily. For the finish, I painted the edges a darker color to exaggerate the geometrical lines that frame the curvature of the chair and stained the rest with a finish that would bring out the natural grain of the wood.

Close-up of the heartwood:

Raven Chair:

This piece was originally intended to be a jump, but the process was interrupted by an unfortunate injury. So I had to take time off to heal and consequently missed the deadline. I could not bear to see a nice chunk of tree go to waste, so I had at it, finished the surface with 100 grit sandpaper (making it as soft as a baby's bottom), and topped it off with an extravagant coat of paint.

MDHT Jumps: Eagles, Owls, and Nessie (oh my)

2011-07-14T14:22:00.001-07:00

The Maryland Horse Trials finally arrived! What a great two weeks. I built two jumps featured in the cross country course, a pair of eagles and a pair of owls. Immediately below are the finished products and further down shows the process of sculpting AND painting.

Eagles:

Owls:

Nessie!:

...I couldn't resist hopping on and taking her for a test spin...

New site! Check it....

2011-07-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

http://Finearzt.com/

The Process/ Paint Jobs

2011-06-01T07:36:00.000-07:00

"Nessie"

I took up the opportunity to paint Tyson Rementer's "Nessie" carving! For the event, "Nessie" will be placed in a water jump, the rest of her body, including her tail, are well on their way.

Nessie's Tail, because there's an end to everything

Step 1: Carve (this particular one is Poplar)

Step 2: Low-lights/ adding definition

Step 3: Darker scales and shading

Step 4: Fill in the rest with the lighter green

Step 5: Cover the piece with a clear coat of Sikkens, it ensures the durability of the piece as well as protecting the paint job from fading

Stonewalls

I was given the challenge to spruce up these stonewall jumps. They were originally painted with a gritty deck paint, but I was told they looked too "campy". I knew the solution was simple, something that a single coat of paint could handle:

(click on the image to zoom in on the image)

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Turn around, show me some back!:

Chain-saw wood carving

2011-05-18T18:55:00.000-07:00

This summer I am spending it with the trees and carvin' some wood! Right now I am carving a series of Native American inspired structures, photos below are some pieces in progress and final!

Totem pole!

Rabbit before the wood is cut:

After the paint job:

Installed/ erected, Accident free!!! thank you crew!

Eagles:

The pair, with "nessy" in the background:

Recently.... I guess the theme is FUR!!

2011-03-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

Head gear, Galore!

Photos by Pricilla De Lima Ledesma of Studio P!

http://priscillalimaphoto.com/home.html

THE VEST with removable fur lining

MONSTER FEET

The Flea Bag!

2011-03-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

New and improved... Now available on Etsy

Photos by Pricilla De Lima Ledesma of Studio P!

http://priscillalimaphoto.com/home.html

http://www.etsy.com/listing/68009385/flea-bag-handmade-zipper-pouch?ref=pr_shop

Made out of a plethora of materials!......

Sculptures: Awkwardly funny pieces that induce the nervous laugh

2011-01-18T11:41:00.001-08:00

These pieces deliver a punch-line. I like to think of these pieces similar to a comedians jokes, the success of the delivery of the joke depends on the timing.

Revival of the Fittest: The Double Take
This piece is only the beginning for quenching my thirst for puppets and fur. This project falls into my fascination with re-animation and reusing a material that was considered waste.

Revival of the Fittest
Scrap Fox Fur, Polymer Clay, Papier-mâché
18" x 10" x 6"
2007

LMNO

LMNO originates from the name of an orphaned baby bird that was adopted one summer in Washington D.C. To most people, they believe this is unlikely and view the baby bird as ultimately helpless, so they must interfere with what occurs naturally and take the baby under their wing (no pun intended).

Ode to LMNO

Synthetic clay, fabric

6”x2” (each bird)

2008

Detailed photos of an individual bird. The birds are made out of a bubble-gum colored polyester. The beak and feet are made with a taxi cab colored synthetic clay:

Tortoise and the Bare

This piece is based off of Chuck Jones style cause and effect with a dash of Brothers' Grim moral to the story. Like Wiley Coyote, the tortoise's seemingly brilliant scheme to help him win the race collapses on him and he is left stranded and naked with nothing but his heart boxers to cover his last shred of dignity.

Tortoise and the Bare

Ceramic and fabric

15”x6”x3” (tortoise) and 12”x11”x8” (shell)

2008

Detailed photos of the individual pieces. The fired stoneware is treated with a diluted mixture of acrylic paint. When slightly diluted with water, the acrylic works very well the the porousness of the clay and absorbs the color while maintaining the surface detail:

Fleabag

The idea of the bag is that despite what it's made out of and what it is (a flea), people would be so drawn towards it and collect them to build up a colony, which goes against the human tendency to kill all vermin.

Fleabag

Leather and fabric

12”x18”x3”

2008

Don't Let Gravity Get You Down

Paper-clay, Steel, Condoms, Mardi Gras Beads, Synthetic and Human Hair

60"x24"x14"

2009

¡COCKFIGHT!

This was my piece for the Corcoran All Senior Show 2009. ¡COCKFIGHT!'s inspiration was the result of the research I did for my BFA thesis (Dont Let Gravity Get You Down), particularly the porn industry and adult toy industry. I came across a lot of interesting objects that fulfilled even more interesting tasks. Although they are considered "adult", one could argue they aren't that far removed from children toys. In this piece I have placed two vibrators in a miniature wresting ring. It reminded me of two male egos going at each other, in a fight to the death.

¡COCKFIGHT!

Purevibes Silicone # 73, Micro Fiber Density Board, Wire, Condoms

24''x24''x12''

Brain Bang

Brain bang (IW)

Stoneware, acrylic paint, toothpick, paper

7"X10"X15"

2009

Costumes

2011-01-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

T'ang Dynasty Guardian (Free From the Freer)

I expressed my fascination with the ancient arts of China by making a costume based on this T'ang Dynasty guardian. After finishing the costume I realized I had created some sort of "mascot" for the museum. The picture sequence below is an example of one of the many evasive encounters. (In the first picture the lady is in the center of the bench, as I approach, she maintains her nervous smile. Once as I place myself next to her, she immediately shifts to the end of the bench. I smile at her, trying to reassure her I am harmless.

A Washington, D.C. (Free from the Freer)

Performance and

Costume (Fabric and Acrylic Paint)

May 5, 2008

The Wild Things

Most of the costumes I make are to fulfill a child-like fantasy to embody another being or character in order to engage yourself in another world. It has especially been a dream of mine to become one of Maurice Sendak's Wild Things (mind you, these were made way before the release of Spike Jonze's film).

The Wild Things

Performance and Costumes (Fabric, Leather, Synthetic Clay)
November 7, 2008

and MAX!!!

Ewok

After I graduated from college, I felt antsy to get my hands on another project. A lot of my friends are big Star Wars fans, one is especially enthusiastic about the ewok culture. Check out wookieepedia. They are cute, fuzzy, and get live on the edge of civilization, and if you had the opportunity to hug one, would you ever pass that up? Another friend in NYC invited me to an amazing Halloween party and I saw this as a perfect excuse to make the cuddliest, lovable, surreal, recognizable, and borderline craziest costume ever.

Ewok

Costume (Synthetic clay, leather, Fabric, and hugs)

2009

Garments

2011-01-18T11:36:00.000-08:00

recently moved up to NYC and am currently attending Parsons for fashion design. This is some of my work I have done thus far, both in and out of school...

Pattern-making/ Sewing Final:

This design is based on a 12 gore skirt pattern. The design is based off of a highland kilt, but without a waistband. Between 10 of the 12 gores are invisible zippers. the remaining two gores contain separating zippers, basically making up a separating panel.

Lining

Front

Front panel separated

And the Party Pouch!

Dress: The garment has darts on the princess line of the bodice and they run all the way down to the skirt, lined up with the front and back gores. This design is very flattering to both small and large, young and old women because the princess line elongates and accentuates the figure. Along the center front is a two way separating zipper, so the client can reveal or cover as much skin as they want on the top and bottom. If the dress is unzipped completely, it converts to an ideal sun-dress to throw over your bathing suite while at the beach.

Fashion Industry Line:

This project called for the student to produce a fashion line inspired by an exhibit held at a fine art gallery. I was able to go to a gallery in Amsterdam during spring break. The gallery specialized in ceramic pieces from artists all across Europe. Some of the ceramic pieces were fired Raku style. With the garments, I played with the fact that the clay, as well as the clothes, have been exposed to extreme conditions. The garments will be constructed out of cotton/ jersey material.

Mood board:

Flats and Fashion Figures: