For an upcoming gallery show I wanted to present my work differently than with traditional framing and matting. The images I had in mind for this show needed an added depth that I was not getting from print alone. I have been experimenting with encaustics for a while, though not as much as I would like, and thought the medium alone would lend that added touch I was looking for. For encaustics, you need a rigid surface. Even though I was using the medium as a finish coat to my photographic work, some form of rigid substrate was required.

Rodney generously gave me a few of his tricks, some good instruction to start, and I set off to build my own cradled panels. I have built cabinets, renovated houses, roofed, & framed, why not build art panels. Well, what I did not consider was the cost involved in finding and purchasing the “right” tools, blades, and other items necessary, like a billion clamps. Thankfully I had the big tools in place, my sister Julie and I had seen to that this summer after restocking my workshop during her renovations.

First up, wood. Julie and I met up at Windsor Plywood, each with our own list.. well, sort of. I forgot my sheets of rough cut drawings, done in photoshop of course, and to scale. So, after calling my niece Brynn to run over and find the sheets, and her relaying the measurements I required over the phone, I had my list. Now to drive the man helping us with our order crazy.

Next, I decided I needed a featherboard to help cut the narrow strips, it's almost like a second set of hands. During my many trips to Lee Valley to buy clamps and other wonderful things, I also purchased and returned featherboards and stock holders that did not fit the table saw. I then made my own featherboard to keep the stock close to the fence. It’s an odd looking contraption, I cut out a clampable end to fit my particular table. It was easier to have the featherboard mobile, rather than using it in the mitre guide, as I was getting a more accurate cut keeping the fence in measured position.

The photos on this page show the cutting of strips for the cradles. Usually I keep the garage door closed due to the cold, but the two shots in daylight were with an open door. A bit of a chinook came in that day and the temperature rose to a balmy -4C. One day, I will install a shop furnace, but for now I have been making good use of three radiant heaters. I have not shown the full size plywood sheets being cut, scary. I had one kick back, and with adrenaline in high gear, gave no thought to photographing it.

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