Occasionally, we have clients who want signs that reflect their own artistic preference in design and craftsmanship. The Shamom hand-carved sign is a fine example of one man’s appreciation for his wife’s passion for yoga and her business cachet. He wanted a sign that reflected her life-long dedication to the ancient discipline, including her appreciation for the four Earth Signs: earth, wind, fire and water. In addition, he wanted to acknowledge her use of the “aum” mantra symbol.
Ultimately, these art elements, along with her business name, “Shamom”, will appear on a black walnut wood sign that measures 9 1/2″ X 20″, pictured above, while in the hand-carving stage (see photo, above).
In addition, the business name, “Shamom,” will be finished in dazzling gold leaf, as well as a well-placed border around the sign’s edge.
The hand-carving process
Design is a crucial stage when hand-carving a personalized sign. It begins with presenting the client with several ideas. For Shamom, we presented three designs. The one chosen by our client is pictured below.
The next step is selecting an appropriate piece of carvable wood. In this case, we chose black walnut. You can see the beauty of the wood grain in the piece we selected as it’s being carved in the above photos.
Of course, the tools used in hand-carving vary. For example, some are used for gouging. And that is precisely what they are called: gouges. Other tools include mallets, chisels and carving knives. It’s a slow process that requires a great deal of concentration and precision. In addition, proper lighting and adequate workspace are essential.
After the Shamom sign is carved, the next step is preparing and applying a sealer and finish. For this, we use two or three coats of a high-quality polyurethane.
Finally, after carving and sealing, the sign is ready for gold leaf. This process requires small, extremely thin sheets of gold leaf to be gently placed on top of an applied “size” varnish. The gold leaf sheets will permanently adhere to the varnish. Once on, the applied gold leaf will last outdoors for up to twenty years; indefinitely if displayed inside.
We’ll soon be following up with photos of the finished Shamom hand-carved sign. Stay tuned!
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