Our plan is to use this space to share information and ideas about mesquite wood and the trials and tribulations of making mesquite furniture. We are by no means experts on mesquite but Lou has decided to dedicate the rest of his life to learning to use this wood and uncovering the many mysteries we know it holds.
Lou Quallenberg says goodbye to the Branch Altar Table
The Mesquite Branch Altar Table was a labor of love and a true stretch
of the mesquite furniture and carving /sculpting skills that Lou
Quallenberg has acquired over the years. Working with wood, working
with mesquite, and creating something from a vision in your head.
The Chapel at Noah's Dream in the Texas Hill Country
Created for a private Chapel in the Texas Hill Country the piece's unique, beautiful and serene final destination was designed to resemble an ark.
The Chapel at Noah's Dream in the Texas Hill Country
As most of Lou's pieces do this one started out as a sketch. Well make that three sketches....
Sketch by Lou Quallenberg
Fortunately Lou Quallenberg can put his ideas down, beautifully on paper and the amazing thing is most pieces come out looking very close to the original sketch.
Sketch by Lou Quallenberg
Originally conceived and designed as a hallway table, changes had to be made to adapt it into a larger piece with more presence. The thoughts of a limestone top came to an end as the issue of weight was raised and unresolved.
Sketch by Lou Quallenberg
Maquette
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A maquette (French word for scale model, sometimes referred to by the Italian names plastico or modello) is a small scale model or rough draft of an unfinished sculpture. An equivalent term is bozzetto, from the Italian word that means "sketch".
It is used to visualize and test shapes and ideas without incurring
the cost and effort of producing a full-scale product. It is the
analogue of the painter's cartoon, modello, oil sketch or drawn sketch. For commissioned sculptures, especially monumental public sculptures, a maquette may be used to show the client how the finished work will fit in the proposed site.
Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table
Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table
Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table
Maquette in Mesquite - Branch Altar Table
Lou created a miniature version maquette first, to be sure he could actually reproduce it on a larger scale and to aid in the
logistics of creating this large piece.
That is one hefty chunk of mesquite with Lou Quallenberg
This piece's tree base was sculpted and carved from a solid laminated
block of mesquite pieces. The block weighed approximately 1,240 lbs at beginning
and approximately 350 lbs at delivery.
Lou Quallenberg begins carving the Mesquite Branch Altar Table
Check out this video to see the carving process unfold:
The carved roots form the base of the
table which grows into a tree form sprouting a branch that pokes
through a carved natural hole in the mesquite slab top. The branch
ultimately blooms into a tabletop candelabra. He sculpted
designs in the top, sides and underside of the table top designed to catch the light and give the
viewer hidden surprises to discover.
Several views of the Mesquite Branch Altar Table by Lou Quallenberg
The dimensions on this incredible piece are: 60"L x 22"W x 36"H and while the photos are good they just do not do the piece justice. It is most certainly one that calls out to be touched and explored.
May 2016 be Full of Heart: Mesquite Hearts, Mesquite Furniture & More at www.LouQart.com
And now on to 365 new opportunities to shine our light, share our love, make: mesquite furniture, mesquite sculpture, mesquite hearts, mesquite art or whatever else we are guided to create.
There are infinite possibilities as this new year awakens..... With ♡LOVE, Lou&Cheryl Quallenberg
This
summer while not as hot as some is still a very hot one and if you have
been to the shop lately you know the temperature inside has reached the
100's regularly. We really need to get some temperature control in the shop. We
had originally hoped to be moved to a more permanent and expandable location by now,
but at this point are committed to stay and help my declining, aging
parents. So the question is: To cool? or not to cool? and hopefully soon it will be: To heat? or not to heat?
This quote below really struck a chord for us, it is how we are trying to live our life of mesquite, so we needed to share it:
"Creating a life that reflects your values and satisfies your soul is a
rare achievement. In a culture that relentlessly promotes avarice and
excess as the good life, a person happy doing his own work is usually
considered an eccentric, if not a subversive. Ambition is only
understood if it’s to rise to the top of some imaginary ladder of
success. Someone who takes an undemanding job because it affords him the
time to pursue other interests and activities is considered a flake. A
person who abandons a career in order to stay home and raise children is
considered not to be living up to his potential — as if a job title and
salary are the sole measure of human worth.
You’ll be told in a hundred ways, some subtle and some not, to keep
climbing, and never be satisfied with where you are, who you are, and
what you’re doing. There are a million ways to sell yourself out, and I
guarantee you’ll hear about them.
To invent your own life’s meaning is not easy, but it’s still allowed, and I think you’ll be happier for the trouble".
- Calvin and Hobbs creator Bill Watterson
Check out the latest mesquite heart sculpture "Mesquite Hearts A'Flame" on youtube video for a 360 view.
Just a reminder you can see Lou's work up close and in person at:
Well my goodness it really has been a while since I have posted to the blog. Our hands and hearts have been full with elder care, which is a bit like juggling jello at times. So some things have gotten dropped. Hopefully I will rise above the emotional, physical and financial toll this has taken on our family and continue to post our progress. That is the plan.
With that said I am happy to share Lou Quallenberg's latest direction in his mesquite masterpieces. Lou has always put so much of his heart and soul into his work and this new direction is no different. His new works actually take the shape of a heart with his distinctive design style - of course.
Mesquite Hearts for Cheryl on Valentine's Day
Every year for Valentine's Day he presents me with a mesquite valentine. They range from tiny tokens to 3ft sculptures carved into a branch and everything you can imagine in between. The heart posted on the blog in February last year Mesquite Furniture, Fire & Flames was one such heart.
Mesquite Heart in Flames by Lou Quallenberg
During the @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour a few years ago a gentleman saw it and asked to have something similar created for his wife. Lou put it on the back burner. Eventually he decided to make two so he could pick one and the other could go to Marta Stafford Fine Art Gallery since he had been promising her something new for a long while. Once people saw those hearts being made in the shop, they ordered their own hearts and so Lou was launched into the sculpture business by way of heart.
BTW the very patient and understanding Marta Stafford still has not received one for the gallery yet.
Open Heart in Mesquite for Cheryl
Moresco Square Base Mesquite Heart by Lou Quallenberg
Moresco Natural Base Mesquite Heart by Lou Quallenberg
Messer Mesquite Heart by Lou Quallenberg
Lacy/Franco Mesquite Heart by Lou Quallenberg
Laminated Mesquite Heart by Lou Quallenberg
So as we start this day in celebration of our 20 years of marriage I publish this post in honor of my talented, artist of a husband Lou Quallenberg. I only ask that our remaining years be filled with as much love as the last 20 years!
Due to the natural, native state of the mesquite wood pulp and a special non toxic process that we use, adding water to the top of the capsule activates the living cells in the wood. Within hours the growing process of our mesquite furniture is complete and a fully functional and finished piece of mesquite furniture rises from the spot that you place the water filled capsule.
Natural Cracks and crevices as well as unusual wood character will be individually based upon the actual natural character of the wood. The finished piece will look similar but may not look exactly like the photo on the capsule. Turquoise inlay is available at an additional charge.
CAUTION: You must leave enough clear space around the soaked capsule for the completed piece to grow or the results will be stunted and possibly deformed. We are not responsible for improper handling and/or poor results due to inappropriate growing conditions.
So today marks the first day of the Chinese New Year 2014 which is the year of the Wood Horse. Since I am a Fire Horse and wood is fuel for fire, I am thinking this will be a great year for me to get things accomplished. That and the fact that it is a WOOD year and well mesquite IS a type of WOOD - I am taking that as a good thing! Guess only time will tell....
The year has gotten off to a bumpy start with a rather lengthy 12 day hospital stay with my father. Hopefully we are through the worse part but we will just take it all one day at a time. My personal goal this year of the "Horse" will be to create a horse every day in some type of artistic medium. I hope to have quite a horse collection at the end of this year and maybe discover some things about myself that I did not know. It will be part of my getting back to myself and uncovering my artistic side. I only hope I can stick with it.
With the approach of Valentine's Day I have spent a little time focused on heart. I recently came across this quote at the end of a beautiful letter written by Ted Hughes to his son:
"The only calibration that counts is how much heart people invest, how
much they ignore their fears of being hurt or caught out or humiliated.
And the only thing people regret is that they didn’t live boldly enough,
that they didn’t invest enough heart, didn’t love enough. Nothing else
really counts at all."-Ted Hughes
Lou and I have invested not only time and money, but heart in this mesquite furniture journey, because working with mesquite is what makes his heart sing. We have ignored our fears and the warnings of others. It is at times scary and we have been known to ask ourselves "what were we thinking?" but all in all it has supported us and lead us to grow not only as artists but also in heart.
This year we have some exciting, challenging new projects in house. We look forward to sharing them here and hope that you will check back each month to see how we are doing.
“The analogy between the artist and the child is that both live in a world of their own making,” -Anaïs Nin
Ted Hughes' letter discusses in great detail the inner child and how it has such limited experience in living because most of the time we are protecting it. I hope this year I can let my child out to play and experience life and create a beautiful world of my own making. I also hope that you will let yours out to play.
And now for an early Valentine's Day SURPRISE to Lou a little :
The music of our life plays softly in the background with its high notes and low notes, sometimes speeding along at a pace that is hard to keep up with and sometimes drifting lazily through the air hanging softly on each current. Sometimes it plays so loudly you can't hear anything else and at other times so faint that it can't be distinguished from the beat of your heart. One thing is for sure though it is ALWAYS there beating along to the rhythm of our lives.....
"The music of our life plays softly in the background with its high notes
and low notes, sometimes speeding along at a pace that is hard to keep
up with and sometimes drifting lazily through the air hanging softly on
each current....."
CW Quallenberg
When John Caballero asked Lou Quallenberg to create an award for "Texas Shorty" AKA Jim Chancellor to be presented at this years Llano Fiddle Fest, I was sure he could do it, just not sure how or what would come out of his head and hands. He was super busy with a schedule that was over and past full. I dutifully gathered images of fiddles in all kinds of styles from realistic to abstractly, abstract knowing full well that Lou Quallenberg would infuse it with his signature look and unique design style.
Lou had searched through his inventory for a smaller piece of mesquite. One that was about the right size with some character, but mostly solid and another small piece that would work well as a base.
MESQUITE AWARD Rough Sketch
MESQUITE AWARD Adding some Depth
MESQUITE AWARD Ready for the Finish
MESQUITE AWARD Ready for some Wax
The pictures above show the progression of form. As it took shape it really started to have Lou's look, feel and style and yet it started to sing its own sweet little song. Lou had not done much in the way of sculpture even thought that is the direction his work seems to be taking him more and more. So we THANK John Caballero and the Llano Fiddle Fest for the opportunity to stretch. The incredible response to this little piece of art has the wheels turning for a few more small pieces. Now if we could just add a few more hours to the day....
MESQUITE AWARD created for Llano Fiddle Fest and presented to Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor
So just who was this award being created for? WHO IS Jim "Texas Shorty" Chancellor ? and why was he getting an award? Let me tell you it was a good thing we did not do this research before Lou did the work or he might have felt too intimidated to do the piece. WOW! This man is a Living Legend! We found him on the Kennedy Center website, The National Endowment for the Arts, Masters of Traditional Arts. He was everywhere!!! and man can he play the fiddle!
For a little taste of this Fiddling National Treasure check these videos out:
Lou Quallenberg & Ralph Moresco Llano Art Studio Tour
The 3rd Annual @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour went well this year. We had over 100 visitors to the shop. The tour is always a great reason for some spring cleaning and organizing the shop. For the last two years we have been saying maybe next year will be in our new location. But REALLY maybe next year we will finally be in a new larger location. It was obvious this year that we are running out of space. The new MiniMax machine and all of the mesquite wood leave no room for the pieces and projects that are on the work schedule. It has become a balancing act to find space to work in.
We were happy once again to haveAnnette and Ralph Moresco of West Shore Wind Spirals with their beautiful Copper Wind Spirals at the shop with us. They were holding a drawing for one of their hanging wind spirals and of course everyone wanted to sign up to win! They are such a sweet and wonderful couple and we really enjoy hanging out with them and of course watching those incredible copper creations, spin, spin, spin in the wind.
Take a few moments and watch the video to see what I mean - mesmerizing.
Lou did a scheduled demonstration on mesquite wood care, oiling and waxing. He also talked a bit about the insect predators of mesquite and how even a finished piece can have the bugs in them if the wood was not properly handled and treated. You know you have the bugs if you find little piles of sawdust under your piece. It is not a pleasant suprise and not always an easy issue to deal with. That whole topic deserves it's own future blog post.
John Caballero of Apple Valley Orchard and Llano Fiddle Fest fame stopped by and serenaded us with a few tunes on the mandolin. He is one hard working guy and we really appreciated his taking the time out to hang with us. I know we were not the only ones on the art studio tour that he visited and played for. Thank you John!
Next weekend is the Fiddle Fest in Llano so if you are in the area come for some great family fun and incredible fiddeling. We happen to know and love the two time reigning Champion "AIR" Fiddler Robin Chiesa and plan to be there as she goes for the crown the third time. Check out her past winning performances here on YouTube :
and then come join us as we cheer her on hopefully to a third championship title on Friday April 5th at the Badu House in Llano, Texas.
The worst thing about the @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour is we don't get a chance to visit the other locations on the tour because we REALLY would enjoy doing that. It is so much fun to visit artists in their work spaces and I think that is what makes our studio tour succeessful each year.
This year the @LAST Llano Art Studio Tour, held annually the last saturday in March, fell on the Saturday before Easter. In order to celebrate the Easter tradition we filled over 100 Easter eggs with candy but the green ones held a special mesquite wood charm that can be hung on a chain, ribbon or keychain. I know they were a hit because people started looking inside the eggs to see if they could find them. The kids of course prefered the candy.
We picked up Lou Quallenberg's "Drift" Mesquite Slab Coffee Table from The13th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show this month and brought her to the shop to be stripped and then refinished. Lou's standards are very high and since the finish was rushed in order to get the piece to the show on time, he felt he needed to strip it and redo it. Apparently the judges had no problem with the finish since they awarded "Drift" the "Best Texas Style" Award and the WOODCRAFT® Sponsor Award at the 13th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show. We also finally got "Drift" into the photography studio for a few beauty shots. But the very best news of all is that "Drift" was also delivered to her new home in the Hill Country this month!
The name "Drift" came to us as Lou was working on the piece. The sculpted part of this floating three part table almost looked like a piece of driftwood. One artist observer commented "mermaid" about the piece. "Drift" is a new concept piece "including the sculpture or art into the actual coffee table." We have looked and not seen anything else like it online or otherwise. It is definitely the direction that Lou's work will move in as he continues to stretch and grow artistically. Much more sculptural and artistic but still functional.
"Drift" Description: This new concept piece for the artist represents an evolution in his distinct design style.
The piece combines and incorporates his signature, sculpted, live-edge
style with a more sculptural, art piece, edge slab. This Texas mesquite
coffee table features the artist's signature floating top as well as a
floating, sculptural, conversation piece, edge slab. The “float” is
achieved atop seven stainless steel pins, welded to four steel bars that
are screwed into routered grooves in the table top. The base was kept
straight and simple to keep the focus on the sculptural top. A black
epoxy is used to fill selected holes cracks and crevices. Lou attempts
to draw the soul of the tree into each piece he creates. If you get a
chance to look at and touch his work you will probably find it talking
to you, maybe even singing. It is a goal Lou Quallenberg tries to reach
in each of his pieces. Dimensions: 16” height x 32” width x 104” length
Interestingly the name "Drift" was used by Snarkitecture of Brooklyn,New York for their really incredible pavilion entrance at this years Design Miami. Guess the name was "drifting" around and landing on the hearts and minds of artists here and there.We are really glad because now Design Miamiis on our radar and who knows perhaps our future?
We have been so wonderfully blessed this year with clients and collectors that REALLY get what Lou Quallenberg Studios is all about. A recent email from a client included this message:
Dear Lou,
.............You are one of these rare masters, who
pay attention to all details and create timeless objects of beauty.
Here is a fragment of the poem that came to my mind as I unwrapped the blanket:
All are architects of Fate,
Working in these walls of Time;
Some with massive deeds and great,
Some with ornaments of rhyme.
Nothing useless is, or low;
Each thing in its place is best;
And what seems but idle show
Strengthens and supports the rest.
For the structure that we raise,
Time is with materials filled;
Our to-days and yesterdays
Are the blocks with which we build.
Truly shape and fashion these;
Leave no yawning gaps between;
Think not, because no man sees,
Such things will remain unseen.
In the elder days of Art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
For the Gods see everywhere.
Let us do our work as well,
Both the unseen and the seen;
Make the house, where Gods may dwell,
Beautiful, entire, and clean.
Happy Holidays,Tad
Lou Quallenberg's Drift
WOW!!! We recognized bits of the poem "The Builders" from "The Seaside and the Fireside"by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow(1807-1882) but what an honor to have a client/collector say this about your work. Obviously the love, passion and attention to detail, DO come across and speak to those willing to listen.
In the elder days of Art,
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part; For the Gods see everywhere. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
As December and 2012 drift to a close we THANK YOU for your support of this mesquite furniture making adventure. We wish you a beautiful and wonderful New Year, full of health, wealth, wisdom and most of all family and friends!
Lou Quallenberg peeks through the crack in the Mesquite Lectern
Each
new project usually brings with it a set of lessons and insight into an
artist's ability. We always find that each new project helps stretch and grow
us in both art and in spirit. The clients for this project: The Mesquite
Lectern, have played a distinct role in stretching Lou Quallenberg
artistically as well as spiritually and for that we are so very thankful.
The Lectern was part of the original order for the Chapel with the Dancing Treesand Benches/Pews.
Since there was no specific time frame or deadline for this project Lou
was able to develop the piece while working on other projects. This
gave him a chance to play with the piece and in doing so, add a pop up shelf and
small fold down reading light.
Lou stands next to the face of the lectern to establish size for the client progress report.
The project began with a unique slab from the same tree that theDancing Treeswere cut from. Lou wanted to save the shape of his unique slabbed piece of mesquite but also make it "Dance" alongside the Dancing Trees.
Sketch of Mesquite Lectern
Lou's work almost always begins with a sketch. He usually has an idea of which mesquite slab he will be working with. That helps to develop the sketch which then gives the client a visual confirmation that he is moving in the right direction.
The YouTube video below shows Lou Quallenberg & Shawn Walker as they begin to carve the Mesquite Lectern with a chainsaw.
Lectern begins to take shape
Progress report photos for the client.
Lou Quallenberg's Signature Mesquite Bow Tie
Progress reports and photos are regularly emailed to clients to keep them up to date on their special piece. This allows the client to help direct the design decisions that need to be made and gives them the feeling of participation as well as anticipation.
Lou Quallenberg's Signature Bow Tie on the Lectern makes a symbolic cross shape and holds the large crack in place. We have several clients that request the Bow Tie even if it is not required structurally to hold their commissioned piece together. They like Lou's Bow Tie purely as a design element. The Bow Tie on the Mesquite Lectern was also sculpted to add dimension and catch the light . This required an extra thick, BIG Bow Tie in order to to have room to sculpt it.
Lou with Lectern in the shop for @LAST Art Tour before the finish.
The Mesquite Lectern was in the shop for quite a while as Lou worked on other projects it even made an appearance, showing off its basic shape at the @LAST Llano ART Studio Tour.
The Mesquite Lectern was professionally photographed by Lou before she was taken on delivery to her new home in the chapel alongside the Dancing Trees.
Mesquite Lectern by Lou Quallenberg
Lou Quallenberg's Mesquite Lectern
Shelf DOWN Light UP
Shelf UP Light DOWN
Light from front in DOWN position.
Light side view in DOWN position.
Lou Quallenberg with his Mesquite Lectern
Many Lessons were learned as Lou Quallenberg stretched creatively and spiritually to create the Mesquite Lectern.
DELIVERY DAY
Arriving at the Chapel in the scenic Texas Hill Country
Entering the Chapel
Making its way into the Chapel towards the Dancing Trees
Mesquite Lectern in its rightful place alongside the Dancing Trees
The Dancing Trees and Benches admire their new friend the Lectern.
