WOW Tango - that sure is going to keep you busy. If and when you have time to breathe let us know how you are getting on and send some pics. Good Luck.

Jilly

WOW! What a commission! I wish I were there, I'd volunteer some time on the project and get some valuable training! I hope it is done next time I am in Texas. If so, I will be sure to go and see it. If anyone can do it, you CAN! They made a wise choice.

Jo

Congratulations Tango, that is quite a coup. You sound excited and proud, and you have every right to be. How many people ever get to do something this awesome. I've never been to Texas but my son recently moved to Dallas. Hopefully I'll get to go visit him one of these days. If it isn't too far to Houston I will make sure I go see your creation. Good luck with putting it together, I hope it goes well for you.

Amy

Tango88: Now that is awesome news...Congrats...:)

If any of you get to Houston to see Tango's work..take pics..so us Canookians can see it as well...better yet Tango..take pics of your work in progress...Would love to see it..the design looks fabulous..

That's terrific, Tango! Your design is really lovely. It's going to look so good.

cheers,
Colleen

Tango,
Congrats! What an honor, you deserve it! This will be a fun project to follow!
Leigh

I will most definitely be taking progress pix as I go and will certainly be happy to share them with all the good folk here. In fact, this project, the process & pix, may well help launch the next big concept...one which I ruminated on here before...a bonafide "How To" book on the basics of Concrete Faux Bois. This will be a great opportunity to track all the steps involved. Hey!...it just occurred to me how really cool it would be to follow the entire project in real-time. I will have to look into what setting up a website for that purpose might involve. Meanwhile, thanks to all for the kind words, but thanks even more for actively contributing to the seemingly bottomless wellspring of information & inspiration that makes this group such a delight and wonderment.

Congratulations Tango!!!!!! All of your research and hard work are paying off!!!Please give me directions. I am in the Houston area, as you know, I don't want to miss this!!!! SOOOOOOO happy for you,can you stand it?

Go Tango! You ROCK! (maybe I should say you FAUX ROCK!)
Still my favorite projects to look at and work on myself, this faux bois.
Lucky you, lucky them, lucky us!
David

Congratulations Tango! Be sure you have your name all over the piece so that in 100 years everyone will know WHO created this wonderful piece of art! Cant wait to see your stuff sometimes soon... - Carol

Sarah --- Don't wait for me. It will probably be another month before I get started and the Mercer is too great to miss, especially this time of year...and it's free! Here's their website, there is a good map on it. Wear good walking shoes and plan on making a day of it. Enjoy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mercer Arboretum

This is such great news Tango! I'll have to make a trip there to see this when you're done. This is all solidifying so well for you lately--great for you!!

I need to find out the chains that are going to be distributing your wares so I can keep an eye out for them. Maybe I'll email you for that info.

Tango, Congratulations!!! I can't wait to see the step-by-step progress...but I'm a little upset that it will delay that book I've been waiting for :) I'm sure this project will be a huge advertisement for bigger and better projects in the future! The sketch was pretty small, but very impressive. Good luck. Justin

Hey Justin, how've you been? Actually this project will provide the opportunity to record a project from beginning to end in photos, which is one of the things I've needed to do in order to present the information in a way that will hopefully make sense. And, just in case the "anti-free enterprise, crass commercialism posting police" are watching...yes, I am trying to put together a "How-To" book on the basics of sculpting concrete Faux Bois (boy, now there's a real money-maker). I've already done my homework on this and determined that it will be nothing short of a miracle if I can accomplish this without going completely broke in the process. In short, there ain't no money to be made by publishing a book like this. My only motivation is to try and record what little I've learned on the subject so that others can build on it and keep the techniques alive and moving forward. There are two very good reasons why you cannot find a single piece of information written on this subject in print anywhere in the world...1). The few people who have worked and who presently do work in this medium have never been willing to share what they know out of fear of competition...and, 2). There have never been enough people interested in the subject to justify the time & expense required to publish it. I'm not sure if I can afford to do it, but I'm certainly going to try. Hey, it's not the quest for the Holy Grail, but over the past ten years or so that I've been dabbling in this, there have been times when I,ve felt like the answers to the simplest and most basic questions were hidden away in some lost tomb guarded by the Knight Templar! For cripes sake, lighten up guys...it's just rebar and concrete!
So there. It's out. My hidden adgenda is revealed.

Tango how Âbout some pictures of you too. IÂm sure us tufers would love to see who this famous guy is. You all agree with me? HereÂs to pictures of this very famous guy that we all feel we Âkind of know!!!! :) :) :)

Tango, I know exactly what you're talking about. It's a shame a lot of the techniques die with the artists, only to be discovered and lost again. You might consider just making a pdf file and selling it on Ebay. I know someone else was doing something similar for beginner, intermediate, and master hypertufa instructions. That way you don't have to invest all the money and time trying to publish. It's a highly specialized interest group, but I have seen a lot of people interested in finding out more. You probably know by now how fast word of mouth press via the internet works. I doubt you would even have to advertise much...you're already recognized as an expert on this forum. Also, I think the interest in owning faux bois art is only going to grow, which should drive more artists to become interested. I know I'm personally sick of learning things the hard way :) Make sure you reserve your publishing rights for documenting your work on the Mercer! I'm really looking forward to seeing the progress!!!

Take care,
Justin

Donna --- I'm a little camera shy, but it will probably be hard to stay out of any working pictures. Maybe I'll wear a mask and bill myself as the Phantom of the Faux Bois.
Justin --- May have to go the electronic route due to budget constraints, but a coffee table book would sure be nice (concrete faux bois coffee table, of course). I'm hoping to include quite a bit of the history as well as the work of as many other working artists as will share a little something. I've mentioned it in passing to Carlos and hope he'll participate. After all, he is without question, the reigning maestro.

Tango, you can become savvy in Photoshop and superimpose a Tom Cruise face onto the pic--we'd never know the difference but would enjoy the view! LOL

From my first-year vantage point, I am very interested in seeing what the artists in the group are doing. It gives me a great view and a place to dream. Imagine if all i heard was "yup, put another one in a mold...and then i took it out."
Secretive? Even my airport runway builder BIL declined to tell me what he knows about concrete. I *am* going to ask again! I'm building pots - I'm not a big threat, surely.
I also think that a downloadable book might be the way you could more easily publish. Internet marketing types think so, anyway.
Good on you - and I just got it...Faux Bois, Faux Pas! I'm so pleased for you.
Mercedes

Hi. I am new to the group as a result of the soul purpose of my search for a book of faux bois for my Mom who wants to dabble in it in her spare time. I ould be happy to buy a book or PDF print.please put me on the waiting list just in case. Thanks

Hi yvonneloke! Good to see you here.

Tango, I personally like to have a well laid out book (the real kind, not the virtual - print it yourself kind) that I can thumb through and pull off my bookshelf - or coffee table! whenever I please. Somehow a 'real' book seems more professional to me. My bookshelves are bursting at the seams already, but I would surely make room for a Faux Bois book of yours anyday!

~GardenChicken

GC --- Yeah, I know what you mean. I'm old school myself when it comes to books. Old, new, big, small, I'll never have enough room in my house for 'em. My wife & I collect early Roycroft publications but some of my favorites are the old trade & craft books. My father was an artist and painter very early in the last century and one of my favorites is a color mixing guide of his from 1923. The well worn cover declares the book to contain the "Proportions for Mixing All Known Colors" and includes "Hints for Painters & Decorators". The insrtuctions encompass things like how to "burn creosote" to make your own lamp black and the techniques involved in "grinding & slaking flake lead" to make white oil color from scratch. We have no idea how easy we have it as artists today. But this little book also contains more information on the basic properties of oil paints & color principals in general than you'll find in most Masters programs from the best contemporary universities. Just wish someone had done something like it on sculpting concrete into Faux Bois.

Ahhhh.. Roycroft. I live about 2 hours for East Aurora, NY and have been there a few times. You would love it! That's where the community was and the whole village, where the Roycrofter's made pottery, furniture, books and all sorts of Arts & Crafts style items. The buildings are now sort of restored, but now they are inns, county buildings, antique shops and modern pottery studios still stamping the Roycroft signature. They still run the printing press at the print shop. In fact, I was thinking of how your Faux Bois fits so well with Mission style. Elbert Hubbard would love this forum, wouldn't he?

Jo

Jo --- Yes, I believe he would. And the Roycroft "campus" is high on my list of places I hope to see before I die.

OMG, I read up on that place. I end up learning about so many other subjects in this place!

So the Hubbard's died on the Lusitania...interesting.

Well, Tango, they really didn't do as good a job on promoting and restoring the campus. Some the buildings are in disrepair and the restored buildings are being used for residences mostly. The "museum" is really hokie, mostly just their own local history and just a small room in what is now the village town office building. The antique shops are the best cause they sell Roycroft items, which are really quite reasonable and WHEN you go, please be sure to stay at the Roycroft Inn. Stickley started in our area too, had a chair factory in Binghamton. They now make furniture up near Syracuse and some still in the arts & crafts style with the quarter sawn oak....really nice! (and expensive)

Jo

Jo --- Sad to hear that the campus is not being properly maintained & restored. It should be delared a national treasure. I'm also a big fan of all the Stickleys. My wife & I operated a couple of antique shops for several years and we used to be able to make a "find" on nice pieces from time to time. Should have invested in more of it...the prices these days are mind numbing! I did just run accross a nice little early Stickley Brothers side chair on a trip to Fort Worth. It had a coat of brown spray paint hiding fantastic quarter sawn oak so I got it for just $18 bucks! The only one I've been able to find like it online was refinished & reupholstered and they were asking $475. So keep your eyes peeled...there are still a few of their treasures out there!

Congrats Tango! That sketch is an awesome design...I just sent you an email regarding self-publishing, a great article that was in the NYT a week or so ago. Good luck with BOTH projects! I hope you'll still share some of those pics with us here on the forum!!! : - )

Gomango --- WOW! Thank you. Great information. It will take a while to get it all organized, but this gives me a good starting point. Thanks again.

Congratulations on the commission!
This might be a complete faux-paus on my part, but every time I see the term "faux bois" I think of Martha Stewart. She did a good bit on the technique a few years ago on her television program (before her legal troubles). That is actually how I became aware of hypertufa and faux bois. One of her shows was on Little and Lewis and featured the two of them making cast hosta leaves. It might be worthwhile to contact her people to talk about a joint effort involving publication of a book on faux bois. A thought anyway.
I enjoy your contributions to the forum and would be very happy to own a book authored by you. Thank you for all of the sharing that you do. You are certainly a generous soul!
spiderwoman

Hey Spidey...welcome...and you are correct. Martha Stewart was and is one of the world's leading collectors of faux bois. She had Carlos Cortes on her program a few years back and dangit...I missed it! Even tried to buy a tape of the show but as it turns out, they don't sell them. As for the commission, it is now on what may turn out to be terminal hold. The county reevaluated the proposal and decided that because of the scale, it was a "construction project", and as such, requires multiple bids by law. We'll just have to wait & see on that one. Have another small one I'm wrapping up now for the same folks & will post a few pics and some info shortly.

I really hope it comes through for you, tango.

I, too, would buy your book. I love your work.

Tango, You must be terribly disappointed in the new "wrinkle". I hope that you treat the delay as just that though, just one more step. Obviously, they wanted your work there and most likely the staff will try to help you in any way that they can to see that you succeed in the bid process. If bid submission is new to you, let the folks know that and that you will welcome assistance with the requirements. You sound like a well-centered and balanced fellow who probably knows those things though. I do wish you well with it all. Thanks too for the welcome. I've been around for a few years now though. Had a pretty hard winter this year and haven't been posting much for a while.
spiderwoman

Tango,

I would buy your book in any form, be it a conventional book or a print it yourself. But here's an idea. I had a bookstore for a few years. There are publishers out there that do Print on Demand books. The books are printed as they are ordered. Some publishers want a certain number ordered before they print. In this case it can take up to about 3 months to get the book after ordering. I don't know what the requirements are for these publishers but it couldn't hurt to find out. This may be the way to go. You may be able to get the info on Print on Demand publishers from Ingram Book Company. Or maybe they can direct you as to where to start. I probably still have Ingrams phone number if you want it.

Amy

I guess the real disappointment stems from having been told the project was fully approved, then a week later having to start over. Life goes on.
Amy...yes, I am indeed looking into print-on-demand and would be thrilled to have another contact. That's one of several "new" publishing options I'm researching. Thank you.

Anything new on the Mercer project? Tried the link to the sketch and it's no longer available. sigh

Fleur --- thanks for asking. The Mercer was forced by the county to go the multiple bid route and they are supposed to have all bids in place by mid-October. I gave them Carlos Cortes's name and they found one other studio here in Texas, so hopefully it will be settled soon. Whoever wins, the winter would be the best time to do the work as they are fairly mild here and the traffic at the arboretum would be minimal.

As for the link, you might try the one below. It should take you to all my albums including the one with the sketch. When I hear anything one way or another, I'll post the outcome.

Here is a link that might be useful: Albums

Hi Tango - that link leads only to the Yahoo photos front page, not to your album. Maybe you haven't specified that the album should be available to all viewers? You have to do that with Yahoo.

Dying to see your album...

OOps!...Sorry, I copied the wrong link. Try this one...

Here is a link that might be useful: 2nd Try at Albums