 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Gary LeMaster ◦ 3625 Elgin Drive ◦ Iowa City ◦ IA ◦ 52245 Ph. (319) 338-2094 Fax (319) 339-9133 Email eggzotica@mchsi.com |
| Website created by Gary LeMaster • All contents © 1996 - 2011 by Gary LeMaster and The Eggshell Sculptor, LLC |
| Please click on the thumbnail pictures below for detailed photos |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| My Most Recent Eggs |
| "1,000 Celtic Dreams" (Above) |
This rhea egg is my current pride and joy. It took
almost 80 hours to draw the design, and 1,500
hours to carve it. I had stopped counting the
hours at 1,000 (hence the title), thinking that I
was almost done. However, the more I looked at
it, the more work I saw ahead, so I began
counting hours again. My goal was to make a
Celtic knotwork egg with the design
encompassing the entire shell. No big deal if you
simply cover it with knots and then put a ring
between each of them to link them all together.
My goal was higher because I've never seen it
done before, not in wood, not in any material I
almost 80 hours to draw the design, and 1,500
hours to carve it. I had stopped counting the
hours at 1,000 (hence the title), thinking that I
was almost done. However, the more I looked at
it, the more work I saw ahead, so I began
counting hours again. My goal was to make a
Celtic knotwork egg with the design
encompassing the entire shell. No big deal if you
simply cover it with knots and then put a ring
between each of them to link them all together.
My goal was higher because I've never seen it
done before, not in wood, not in any material I
could find in my research back to the beginnings
of Celtic Knots. My goal was to do the entire egg
with but a single line (including my initials and
the date) while staying true to the tradition of
never having a line go above or beneath any
other two lines in succession. I will get details
together for you when I move it to the "Rhea"
page. I can tell you that the price is $7,000.00,
which includes a protective glass dome, base,
stand, Certificate of Authenticity, etc. That's
$4.00 per hour, half of today's minimum wage!
Why do artists work for so little? In my case, I
have a passion to create, no matter what it takes.
of Celtic Knots. My goal was to do the entire egg
with but a single line (including my initials and
the date) while staying true to the tradition of
never having a line go above or beneath any
other two lines in succession. I will get details
together for you when I move it to the "Rhea"
page. I can tell you that the price is $7,000.00,
which includes a protective glass dome, base,
stand, Certificate of Authenticity, etc. That's
$4.00 per hour, half of today's minimum wage!
Why do artists work for so little? In my case, I
have a passion to create, no matter what it takes.
| Three More Eggs Not Yet Placed On Their Proper Pages (Click Each for Larger Photo) |
| "Shell o' the Wisp" |
| "Tempest" |
| "Northwest Dolphin" |
This goose egg was one of
several pieces of my art featured
on a recent episode of the
History Channel's "Modern
Marvels." When I was asked
how I did it, I cleverly retorted,
"I have no idea." And that's the
whole truth. Of course I never
strengthen my shells before
carving... What kind of I did say
on the program that before
something like major surgery, I
start the most fragile design I
can so that I have to concentrate
completely on the egg, and
nothing else. No photo could
ever do this egg justice. I'll
never do another because I
don't know how I did this one. I
doubt any other carver would be
interested in trying. So the price
stands at $2,000.00.
several pieces of my art featured
on a recent episode of the
History Channel's "Modern
Marvels." When I was asked
how I did it, I cleverly retorted,
"I have no idea." And that's the
whole truth. Of course I never
strengthen my shells before
carving... What kind of I did say
on the program that before
something like major surgery, I
start the most fragile design I
can so that I have to concentrate
completely on the egg, and
nothing else. No photo could
ever do this egg justice. I'll
never do another because I
don't know how I did this one. I
doubt any other carver would be
interested in trying. So the price
stands at $2,000.00.
Here we have an acid-
etched emu egg which was
created by applying hot wax
to the shell, letting the wax
solidify, giving the egg a
hydrochloric acid bath for a
few minutes, then
neutralizing the acid on the
shell with baking soda and
water
The process then begins
again... More wax, another
acid bath, etc. This egg went
through the process 4 or 5
times, exposing the natural
color layers unique to emu
eggs. Each layer of wax was
carefully placed to create
my "storm." Finally, it goes
into the oven to melt off the
wax, and when it's cooled, I
give it a several coats of
UV-resistant sealer. $199.00
etched emu egg which was
created by applying hot wax
to the shell, letting the wax
solidify, giving the egg a
hydrochloric acid bath for a
few minutes, then
neutralizing the acid on the
shell with baking soda and
water
The process then begins
again... More wax, another
acid bath, etc. This egg went
through the process 4 or 5
times, exposing the natural
color layers unique to emu
eggs. Each layer of wax was
carefully placed to create
my "storm." Finally, it goes
into the oven to melt off the
wax, and when it's cooled, I
give it a several coats of
UV-resistant sealer. $199.00
A more traditionally carved emu
shell. It was commissioned by a
customer in the Pacific Northwest
(Hi Terry!) who wanted to give
something very special to his wife,
who loves dolphins. Several years
ago, Jody Pearson used a pattern
of an Orca jumping from the
water as the basis of an emu egg
carving tutorial. I asked Jody if I
could modify it, and she said, "Of
course, I don't even remember
where it came from." So I set to
work redesigning the original to
have more of a Pacific Northwest
background, and drew a dolphin
to insert into the scene, making
sure that some of the splashing
water curled around the dolphin.
Everyone was pleased... Even me!
So don't be afraid to ask me to do
something special for you. The
one above would be $500.00.+/-
shell. It was commissioned by a
customer in the Pacific Northwest
(Hi Terry!) who wanted to give
something very special to his wife,
who loves dolphins. Several years
ago, Jody Pearson used a pattern
of an Orca jumping from the
water as the basis of an emu egg
carving tutorial. I asked Jody if I
could modify it, and she said, "Of
course, I don't even remember
where it came from." So I set to
work redesigning the original to
have more of a Pacific Northwest
background, and drew a dolphin
to insert into the scene, making
sure that some of the splashing
water curled around the dolphin.
Everyone was pleased... Even me!
So don't be afraid to ask me to do
something special for you. The
one above would be $500.00.+/-
| A Very Special Wedding Egg, Carved in Relief on a Goose Shell and Personalized |
Most people know that goose shells just aren't that thick,
which is exactly why I love carving them in relief. I first did
this egg as a commissioned wedding gift. Since then, I've
offered the same design, but added whatever types of
personalization the customer wants. Some have been used
as wedding gifts, but many young couples, tired of the
traditional plastic bride and groom, have used this type of
egg as a cake topper.
which is exactly why I love carving them in relief. I first did
this egg as a commissioned wedding gift. Since then, I've
offered the same design, but added whatever types of
personalization the customer wants. Some have been used
as wedding gifts, but many young couples, tired of the
traditional plastic bride and groom, have used this type of
egg as a cake topper.
beginnings of recorded history, in almost every culture
around the globe, the egg has represented fertility itself. The
same is true today, in spite of our waning traditions, our
plastic world full of cheap electronics and fads that erode
even our ethics and morality. Amidst all that, the egg
remains perfect, pristine and symbolic.
Prices of this egg vary with the extent of personalization.
around the globe, the egg has represented fertility itself. The
same is true today, in spite of our waning traditions, our
plastic world full of cheap electronics and fads that erode
even our ethics and morality. Amidst all that, the egg
remains perfect, pristine and symbolic.
Prices of this egg vary with the extent of personalization.
