Southpaw Specialties

08/13/2026

This is a personal project promoting the art form, with one for me and one to be donated to a not for profit fund raiser. Final result minus hanging hardware! I think they turned out pretty darned good!

The details...Based on a 2011 design concept by Don Eklund, I changed out 5 of the 8 guitars to better reflect the Rock and Blues musicians instruments. There are 201 pieces, (247 if you include the tiny dowel pins holding the tuning keys) made of 11 types of wood.

Clockwise from the left - Fender Stratocaster in Maple wood, Gibson Les Paul in Purpleheart, Martin D45 in Cherry, Gibson 335 in Pauduk (orange) or Redheart, Gretch Falcon in Aspen wood, Ibanez Bass in Walnut, Fender Telecaster in Red Oak dyed yellow (the only non- natural color due to unavailability of quality Yellowheart at the time) and Gibson SG in Rosewood. Necks are Wenge, Walnut and Sapele, and detail pieces are Oak dowel and Baltic Birch plywood!

08/08/2026

I will be demonstrating @ Room For Art in Downtown Washington, Mo., Saturday August 15th from 1-3 pm. with focus on shaping and different uses of wood species! If you're in the area come on down and say hello! They display and sell art from 75 local and regional Missouri artists with a very wide choice of mediums from oil and watercolor painting, to metal work and photography!

08/08/2026

Hey Dan, what have you been up to?...

07/13/2026

One thing not everyone realizes about Intarsia is that it truly is painting with woodgrain! It's more than just cutting out a puzzle. Choice of wood, grain and direction are chosen to reflect the texture and depth of things like muscle, feathers, the curve of leaves, flow of fabric, even shadows! Each artist puts their own spin on looking at the same scene and finding woods at their disposal to recreate the image! I could make a dozen crosses, for example and none of them would look exactly the same!

06/03/2026

I'd like to take the time to thank all our friends for the concern and support we've received concerning my wife's recent health issues. This past year has certainly had its share of strange turns! We really miss seeing everyone on the craft circuit, and the annual winery shows. I hope when this is all over, we will be back stronger than ever and enjoying the commeraderie of you all! When Lori and I count our blessings, we begin with family and friends! Bless you all!

04/23/2026

04/23/2026

Intarsia using all natural wood colors

04/23/2026

New this week

04/23/2026

Fresh out of the frame

04/22/2026