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...

I've just put the original concept drawings of Quartz 9 and No.7 for sale in the shop. These are what were used for the prints that were made. They're each done on high quality drawing paper. The Q9 rendering is on a cream colored strathmore, and the No.7 was done on Rives, with the deckled edge left on.

Both of these were completed BEFORE construction began on the clocks. This means that there wasn't any reference to help with the shadows and reflections. When I was primarily an illustrator, I always used reference for tighter drawings like this, so I'm happy about the results of these drawings.
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In leu of my upcoming exhibition in England, I've come up with some very elaborate shipping methods. The one depicted here consists of many sheets of foam board, stacked and glued. Each layer is carefully cut with a hobby knife to conform to only the stronger parts of the clock, while leaving the delicate gears untouched. This brick of form fitting foam then fits perfectly into a double thick cardboard box. The materials cost almost $100. The total cost to send this one to England is more than my plane ticket! Actually, a lot more, since the plane ticket is round trip. If things go well, the clock won't need to come back! Read More...

In just a few months time, I'll be heading over the Atlantic, and making my way to the beautiful, and prestigious "City of Dreaming Spires". I was lucky enough to be chosen for a steampunk show that will take place at the Museum of the History of Science, the University of Oxford, U.K. It will run for a marathon four months, until February 21st, 2010, and will showcase some very big names, not just in the steampunk realm, but in the art world period!

It's a great feeling when you've admired someone's work, and are then asked to participate in a show with them. Such is the case with a favorite artist of mine, Kris Kuksi. I excitedly bookmarked his site around a year ago, and when I learned that he would be participating, I became very happy with what I was going to be a part of.

As you can see from the circulating poster (pictured left) there are some very well known and talented artists taking part in this show. Hopefully most of them will be able to attend. It's always interesting to talk with various artist about their ideas, and even more so when you all have a common thread and mutual respect for each other.

I'd also like to add some kind words about the curator of the show, Mr. Art Donovan. When it comes to doing all of the promotion and leg work for a show like this, he's nothing short of a machine. His enthusiasm quickly indicates that he is, in fact, a human being who is very passionate about everything he does. He literally handles EVERYTHING himself. This is a double edged sword. While it doesn't leave any room for someone else to drop the ball, it also means that in these next few months, he's going to be very overloaded with work to ensure everything goes perfectly! Luckily he's done this before, and can handle it! Hats off to you my friend.

Here's a link if you'd like to view the official information on the show.