It's been awhile since I've posted any progress on No.7; I've been a garage hermit lately. Slowly, carefully, and affectionately I'm machining and carving my way toward an eventual finish. I'm not going to project when that will be; I'm making it a point not to think about deadlines anymore, only to keep going.

When I first started working on this one, it was my intention to show an even more detailed account of the process than I did with No.6. The opposite seems to be happening. With the scale of this project, and with the benchmarks of accomplishment along the way being further apart, it could be very easy to run out of gas unless I'm really immersed in it and enjoying every drop of it's creation. I am very much immersed; and I am loving every minute that I spend in the garage. Unfortunately this mindset is at the expense of photography and writing. When I'm focused on the work in front of me in a personal and introverted way, it's very difficult to switch into photography mode.

So, here's where I'm at with No.7. Read More...

I've recently finished testing the new escapement style that I've decided to use for No.7. If you take a look at the original concept drawings for No.7, you'll notice that this wasn't part of the original design. During the initial planning phase, I was seriously considering it. It's very animated and interesting to watch, and theoretically very accurate as well. The problem is that this mechanism, the Arnfield Gravity Escapement, usually hangs downward from the pendulums fulcrum, and I visually wasn't sure how to make it work with No.7's horizontal design. I've since had a few 'eureka' like thoughts, which led to some thinking, drawing, figuring and measuring; and now you can add successful testing to the equation.

When this was first completed and running, I must have stared in the most elated of states for over an hour. I can now say with some confidence that No.7's future is very bright, and I can invest the thousand plus hours with anticipation rather than concern.

My calendar year might as well end with October. It's the month I look forward to the most every year, and it's usually the busiest for me as well. This months hectic, stressful and anticipated activities included: A trip to England for a rather large Steampunk show at Oxford University, a cold but eye popping evening at Theatre Bizarre (incredible costume required), and participation in an annual show aimed at the gothic and dark arts called the Damned Show.

The trip to England was packed with unforgettable experiences for my wife and I. Our first stop was the quaint and cobble-stoned city of Oxford. Greeted by rain, we hopped off the train with all of our luggage to begin what was supposed to be a quick ten minute walk to the hotel. Just for the record, maps are a bit harder to fold back up when they're wet and limp. Twenty minutes later, drenched and a little disoriented, we finally located our hotel. Amazingly enough, this was the last time we were hit by rain during our stay in England.

When I arrived at the museum to unpack and set up the clocks, a near nightmare experience was unveiled. Apparently the tiny vibrations during the shipping process caused some of the screws to turn and shake loose. There were pieces loose in the box! Luckily everything stayed away from the gears, and there was no permanent damage. The clock was re-assembled, hung, and seems to be fine. Because of this, I'm very glad that I decided to make an appearance and set everything up myself.

The exhibition is filled with some very nice work. If you're going to be near Oxford between now and February 21st, I recommend a visit! Read More...

I've just added a print of 'No.6' to the shop, the clock now hanging in the Steampunk exhibition at the Oxford Museum of the History of Science. After three hardcopy proofs, I arrived at this nicely represented image, and did a run of 250. This photo was snapped with a 21 megapixel camera for a very crisp image! The clock is fittingly hung on a background of delightfully damaged victorian style wallpaper.

Size - 8.5 x 22

Each print is signed, and is on sale for just $20.00!

If anyone is interested in grabbing some nice desktop wallpapers, Irene Gallo of tor.com has generously done a post allowing subscribers free downloads of a couple of clockwork photos. They're taken from hi-res images, and sized for various screen dimensions to accommodate just about any monitor.

Enjoy!

I'm going to go somewhere now, somewhere I've thought about for a very long time. For me this is an old intrinsic voice, looking back at me and waiting for my ability to catch up. For you hopefully this is something new to make your curiosity tingle. This place isn't named anything that ends in 'punk' or 'ism'. In fact it's not named anything at all, because so far it's mine, and I prefer not to give names to things.

Little retro-gizmos and anachronisms can be very interesting. There's a curiosity that comes along with an object that looks temporally confused or out of place. This experience is heightened if the 'place' can't be identified. To create that I have to go somewhere. Somewhere that belongs to me, and not them.

No.7 is on its way. It's going to be big enough to call attention from further away, but the tangled layers, strange shaped gears, and curious clicks will beg to be explored up close, and from every angle. Hopefully I'm on the right track, because it's going to be a lot of work.

That said, I give you the first completed gear for No.7. Read More...

Sometimes things speak to you. Things that are among other similar things, but for some reason have a shape or personality that grabs your eyes and lulls you into it's world. It's like walking down a fall road with a thousand dead leaves swirling around you, and for some reason one of them grabs your attention. For some reason the shape is interesting. You might stare at it curiously for a moment before the electric fall wind blows it away. Sketching ideas is similar. I have to jot down the ideas before they get rustled away. Most of them are just dead leaves, but once in awhile something falls on the page that mirrors a strange loop in my head-something familiar, something I miss and I'm happy to see again, mingling with my newfound obsessions.
Read More...

Anyone want to know what a real graphic designers work looks like? Horror, pin-ups, chainsaws and hotrods, all tastefully woven together through the skills of Mr. Robert Nixon. Check out his new website!
robertpaulnixon.com

Here are some samples of his work Read More...

Two 11 x 17 full color giclee prints are now available for purchase in the shop. These images were shot with a 21 megapixel camera, and printed with a high quality twelve color printer using archival inks. The pigment is applied to thick archival paper, and has a beautiful velvety matte finish.

Only 20 of each made! Each print is signed and numbered.

Apparently my visual style is appealing to the dermally modified. It would appear that the clockwork tattoo phenomenon isn't going to stop just yet, and I'm starting to wonder if I went into the wrong business. I say this jestingly of course, as I wouldn't trade the clockmaking thing for the world. The continued appreciation from this often creative group of individuals does make me wonder though. Perhaps I'll start marketing myself as a custom tattoo designer.

Here's the latest few that have been inked. Two of No.7, and a shoulder piece that incorporates Quartz 2 with some other designs. One of the No.7's isn't shaded yet.

I'm going to have to put a section in the gallery for these. Read More...