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Steve Armstrong
Приєднався 28 тра 2006
The Fruit of Our Labors 2
Handmade wooden clockwork automata by Steve Armstrong of Lexington, Kentucky. This piece is in progress - it needs detail sanding of the figures and a final tune-up. I am undecided as to whether to paint this piece or leave it natural.
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Відео
Motion: The Automata of Steve Armstrong - Part 2
Переглядів 21 тис.14 років тому
The second installment of a video about Steve Armstrong's kinetic sculpture.
Motion: The Automata of Steve Armstrong - Part 3
Переглядів 19 тис.14 років тому
Kentuckian Steve Armstrong's kinetic sculpture.
Motion: The Automata of Steve Armstrong - Part 1
Переглядів 72 тис.14 років тому
The Automata art of Steve Armstrong
GRAZIE PER AVER CREATO I CIRCUITI
Beatiful, thanks you .. from Argentine, I want to ask if yo have written a book on this topic. Thank you very much
Greeting to beautiful Argentina. Thanks for your kind words, sorry, no book!
yes
Beautiful😊 would be an excellent grandfather clock! Did you make this ? Love it thank you
pure talent
he is so brilliant, but oh so occult and satanic...
THANK YOU FOR VIDEO FR.
Hi Steve, I am an Art Studio student at UK, I happened to see your work at The art Gallery there in 2018. I was so in awe of your work that it has inspired my own in my sculpture class. Do you still happen to come by the woodshop at SA/VS? I would love to see you do what you do in person!
I really enjoy your automata and find your work inspirational. Maybe one day I can create some of the ideas swirling around inside my head. Greetings and wishes of health and happiness from Germany, NRW
🤜👍🤛♡♡♡
Congratulations.
Maravilhoso trabalho. Parabéns
I love Steve's work, he is a genius in my mind. His work is both deceptively simple and complex at the same time. His artistry skills are over the top!
Can anyone tell me where his work or gallery is located?
Great stuff, But you look like you should have hairy hands!?
It grows out at night.
Greetings zubin808 and thanks for the interest. I don't really work from plans, the video shows a little about how I make templates of paper to trace onto wood. I have an idea in mind, a few rough sketches solving mechanical problems, and a few templates for gears, etc., and side and front views of figures. I know I'm over simplifying, but start simple and learn through trial and error. I expect to have more time in the future and plan to do some videos which detail the process a bit more.
Do you have any plans which you could share with me please? Specially of the one with people moving up and down..
Yea I think it's just my personal bias, I make automata out of metal and found objects, and add on older product labels and ads as my "paint". I think it adds an extra layer of interest (trying to figure out where each piece came from), or maybe they know where it's from and it invokes some nostalgia. I tried wood, but as I said I can't stand the sweaky sounds it makes, I am of the opinion that the sound should be one of the most pleasing aspects of the work. Like a ticking watch or a euler disc
I don't feel as great an urge to hide the mechanisms and mystify the viewer - I try to add mystery with subject matter and the "tone" of the piece. I purposely simplify and stylize the figures to achieve the look I am after - and the clunkiness of the mechanism is meant to be commentary on our obsession with technology. The reality is that there are a million ways to create automata - and I enjoy the variety of styles and methods. ps. check out Thomas Kuntz automata - more to your liking?
Greetings ChemTechTube, and thanks for your comments. You make some great points - and address topics that I wrestle with myself. I can't speak for all automata artists, but my work was influenced by a variety of sources - the amazing clockwork automata of the eighteenth and nineteenth century being just one. I consider myself a scupltor first, and the movement can be incidental - but in most cases it is meant to be seen - an integral part.
I can look at almost any contemporary automata and immediately figure out how it works. But, in most of the older automata my jaw would be on the floor because my mind was blown at the stuff they were capable of. I could almost never decipher how it was done, it was like a great magic trick that leaves you stunned and guessing.
Hey Steve great vid, you definitely have talent. Do not take this personally, but I miss the older style of Automata, these days it's all simple wood and the sound of wood squeaking is almost nauseating. There is a noticable lack of detail compared to older pieces. No elaborate clothes, face painting, or extremely life like gestures and facial movement. I know teams used to work on these, I'm wondering why that isn't the case these days? There's definitely a market to support it.
very cool!
Thanks, but don't sell yourself short. Drawing is a skill that can be learned like any other. People that can draw well are observant, and they have practiced a lot. Start with something simple - success breeds success. Good luck!
Wow, your idea of a rough sketch is my idea of a detailed, unachievable work of art! I love your work!
Thanks, jbm for the words of encouragement. I continue to wrestle with the idea of stains and finishes in general. In the end, I guess I prefer the dry look of unfinished wood. Having said this, most of my pieces wind up being painted with an enamel primer and acrylic top coats. If you haven't seen any of these, check out my video here on youtube, "Motion: The Automata of Steve Armstrong", in three parts. Thanks, Steve
My vote is for natural...maybe stain...you might get some terrific visual pop from the same stain applied to the different woods from stain. It is simply brilliant though just as it is. Great work. My thing is to wander the forests and wood cutting sites looking for wood with just the right of amount of rot and decomposition. I then make lamps or simple insert clock fixtures out of them. I have to say, that piece of work of yours is truly beautiful...even if you did use healthy wood ;)
Thanks, but I'm still learning, too. It helps that I can draw well. Improve your drawing skills - but start out simple - start with a cat or dog (for example). I try not to make my figures cartoon-ish - it's ok for others not for me. Try drawing a "real" cat - make paper templates, etc., and you are own your way. Let me know your progress. I'll check out your work on FB - join Automata group!
Greetings Jorge, and thanks for your kind comments. I have a friend from Guatemala, a young lady named Lucia Gomez who is living in the U.S. I checked out your automata - it is great! I subscribed to your channel - a great collection of videos. If you are on facebook check out and join the automata group - it is a great source of ideas. Automata makers from all over the world. Yes, we are close to the same age - not enough time to do all I would like.
beautiful. muy lindo. I like the finish so clean. maybe we are same age. I enjoy very much making automata as well a looking the work of others. I learn a lot and borrow ideas. see my 35 subjects automata. I would like to see your comment . jorgeparedesmendia1 in you tube. Hello from guatemala.
Love the train with the scenery going by. So creative.
Thanks and greetings from Kentucky. I have a friend Lucia Gomez from Guatemala. I would like to visit Guatemala someday.
Work is good - it's a labor of love. Thanks
Thanks!
enorabuena for this show a lot of work
beautiful. do not paint it. hello from Guatemala
Absolutely fantastic. I am now a Steve Armstrong fan! There's something so approachable about Steve that makes the pieces that much more engaging. Steve's work moves me, just from these videos. I would Love to see (turn, crank and touch) these pieces one day. I actually gasped aloud at the "Atom" piece! Thank you for posting. I am now a subscriber.
Thanks! I know I'm boring, but glad you liked the work.
Many Thanks! Coming from you, these kind words are the supreme compliment. I've followed your work for years, your figures and mechanisms boggle the mind, not to mention your wonderfully dark, yet playful imagination. You inspire us all.
Great video ! excellent work