Some More Foggy Drawings

[foggymountain]

Meerqueen: Flattered you asked, but I am retired now. Years ago I would have loved to do it. I was a stone carver. It was my first love, in art. Also I did thousand of ice carvings for the NYC hotels, and woodcarving too. But now I just paint, and not for money. I don't even have a workshop anymore to mess up with carving, and I suspect the dust is not so good for the carver. It is a silicate, isn't it? Silicates lead to silicosis, an unfixable problem that eventually fills your lungs and chokes you. If you send me some pictures I will critique them and make suggestions. No charge, just to help you. If you can't post on private messages, PM me and I will send you a direct email. Another thing: I couldn't possibly work for what the Turkish carvers get. Things cost too much here. My pipes would end up costing more than people would want to pay. What they pay a Turkish carver, wouldn't even buy me lunch, here in Chelsea.

 

[meerqueen]

@Foggy
So maybe we need to go back with a time machine to find you when you are young and then transfer you to Turkey
Meerschaum is a hydrous magnesium silicate.I havent heard and seen any problem that any artisan has a lung problem because of meerschaum carving.Meerschaum carving is safe in terms of health.
Meerschaum carvers were earning less in the past but i can say that now many of them has their own houses and cars and earning a sufficient money

 

[ssjones]

Yep, photographing people sure seems more difficult than say, pipes!

 

[foggymountain]

It is the silicate word that concerns me. When I studied stone carving over 50 years ago, we were taught about silicates and silicosis. Marble and limestones were somewhat safe to work. Silicates were not, though if worked outdoors, were not as dangerous. I am not an expert on these matters and meer could be very safe, but the silicate designation does cause concern. I would suggest thoroughly blowing out a new meer to remove any dust that might be left from carving. Just in case.

 

[meerqueen]

Dear Foggy
thank you for your suggestion and the information that you gave.by the way did you watch our this video.Artisan Tekin is carving a meer.May be you would be interested in.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vPplPziQac
Regards,

B.B

 

[rickpal14]

Foggy... Great self portrait! I too miss your previous avatar. Maybe it's just, me, but it looks like you have a passing resemblance to a thinner Jerry Garcia...... :lol:

 

[fitzy]

wow your very talented. I am jealous as I have 0 artistic talent. I'm not musically inclined either. I'm just a geek.

 

[PeriqueMyInterest]

Foggy, those are great! I love the self-portrait.

 

[docwatson]

A talented gentleman you are. Thanks for sharing.

As for carving meerschaum, there shouldn't be any problem with dust because the blocks are wet and soft during the process. I bet you could put many of those Turks to shame. There are very few carvers that have quality detail in their work.