Platonic Ocean

By Michael

Winning Category

This piece is a turned Platonic solid, a dodecahedron. A dodecahedron has 12 pentagonal faces, 20 vertices and 30 edges.  The form was totally accomplished on the lathe with many axes of turning to complete the internal spherical hollow and a matching external sphere. The external sphere was then turned on 6 axes with 12 fixings to accomplish the final form. The pentagonal faces reminded me of the pentagonal symmetry of starfish. I carved a different starfish on each face, inspired by nature and given a background reminiscent of the ocean.

Once the carving was completed the exterior was dyed with india Ink then hand painted with acyrlics using a dry brush technique.  The interior was gilded with 23 K gold leaf.  

While the starfish may appear brilliant in color, I used real starfish as the model for each one and the colors are pretty true to the actual biological form.

A final light coat of Krylon Fixatif was applied to protect the surface paint.

6" x 6" x 6"

Products Used

  • Basswood
  • Acrylic Paints
  • India Ink
  • 23 K gold leaf
  • Krylon Fixatif

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