Thumbtack Mosaic Portrait

This is something I’ve wanted to try for a long time. The idea of using mundane objects to create something more interesting was calling me. I didn’t want to use “found” objects and put them into a new context, such as using a piece of machinery as a component in a piece of furniture. I’ve done that enough. This time, I wanted to use objects in their proper context, but in a way that was unexpected.

Below is a picture of my friends’ son Max. Step away from the monitor about ten feet to see the image really come together. Thumbtacks were used on a cork bulletin board, where they feel right at home, to create a low resolution portrait. This is the source image I used.

One way to do it:

• Open the source image in your favorite graphic editing software and reduce it to the needed resolution. For this example it was 35×49, pretty rough.
• Decide on color palette/Source the tacks. This was tough because most stores don’t have thousands of tacks just sitting in the aisles. I want to try push pins too, but thumbtacks just had a pleasing tactile quality (once they’re installed that is) so I had to do that. I was going to use the standard primary color, vinyl covered tacks. Then, Mary found these at the variety store down the street. I really liked the colors and I walked down there and bought every pack they had. Still wasn’t enough.
• Get the colors into the computer. I decided to scan them because photos can be a pain with highlights, shadows. Once I had the scan I picked the most representative color I could find from each tack.
• Create a custom palette using those colors. This may not be easy, depends on the software you’re using.
• Apply the palette and season to taste. In Photoshop you can manipulate the Diffusion, Pattern, and Noise options to get something that looks more interesting. For this pic of Max I wanted it diffused enough that when you are standing close by it’s a little hard to see.
• Layout the tacking pattern on the bulletin board. Most tacks, including push pins will do well spaced on 7/16 inch centers. I won’t recommend the way I did it. If you come up with something efficient please let me know by commenting here.
• Scale up the image, say 15X, and maybe overlay a grid to make it easier to follow. Print out the image if you won’t be working next to the screen.

That’s pretty much it. I’ll just say that it took a lot longer than it looks. I had it probably 75% done and had to start over because it looked blah. Lesson learned: crank up the contrast. I was also running out of tacks in a few colors. Adjusting the contrast helped but I still had to fake a lot of it at the end. And you know that gratifying sensation when you push a tack, the cork yields, and you feel it stick? Well, that goes away entirely after the first few hundred. This portrait has 1,715.

I’m going to do a small number more and then move on to something different. Grandmas unite! Put down your cross stitch, your needlepoint, and buy some tacks!

Detail of the eye area… looks like nothing, right?

Balls of Steel, Stainless Steel That Is

I made this when I was working in a sheet metal shop in a shipyard. Why? I do not know, but it probably had something to do with “the man” getting on my nerves and me reacting by doing a little “goverment job.” This ball is made of 16 gauge stainless steel. Two discs were cut on a circle shear. Then they were taken to a spinning lathe where the disks were shaped against a hemispherical steel mold. Before the two shells were TIG welded together I decided to put a large steel ball, maybe 1.5 inches in diameter, inside. Then they were welded along the seam and the center holes were carefully filled. Finally, the ball was ground smooth(ish) on a belt sander.

In hindsight I wish I had tried to partially fill it with water instead of a steel ball. Although that would have made the welding difficult I think it would be more interesting. Still, when you hold it there is a compelling urge to whip it in a circle to feel, and hear, the internal ball whirring around. But it’s like playing the drums — fun for you and irritating for everyone else.

Brass Belt Buckle Baby!

My dad made this belt buckle for me sometime in the mid-1970s. A big “S” for Sigler, but it’s clearly similar to the Superman joint. I’ve kept a close watch on it ever since. Recently, I found a new belt for it and have been wearing it everywhere. People keep asking me “How can I get one?” You can’t, man, you can’t. And if this one ever goes missing I’ll know it’s mine when I see it because he put my name on the back. Little brother had one too.

Christmas Card 2005 — Merry Christmas Tree!

For the 2005 Christmas card Paris suggested “trees.” As time was running out I continued to mention that we needed to get cracking on the cards. When I mentioned it one night at dinner everyone moaned. Frustrated, I said “you can make a tree out of anything!” Then, I grabbed the greens that were left in the salad bowl and quickly threw down a “tree.” I liked it so I got some dried cranberries for the garland and piece of pretzel for the trunk. Everyone got their trees done that night, with Mary’s being the most skillful, and time-consuming.

The backgrounds were removed and the trees were combined on a single white background. This time we had them printed at Kodak.

Clockwise from top left: Tracy, Paris, Mary, Mars

Christmas Card 2004 — Four Flakes

Mary and I have made each other Valentine cards since the mid-1980s. Last year we started making Christmas cards and got the kids involved. For this one everyone cut out full-sheet paper snowflakes, they were scanned, and finally combined on a red background. We printed these at home and even made the envelopes which had a large snowflake outline on it. The red you see here is brighter than the actual cards.

Clockwise from top left: Tracy, Paris, Mary, Mars