Author Archives: michy
Michael Binkley Demonstrates Fretting Technique
There are numerous techniques for carving stone and each depends on the type of stone, the scale of the sculpture and the complexity of the composition. This short video shows me working on a large, abstract sculpture which I am carving from Carrara Petacchi marble. There are over 65 different types of the lovely white marble that is quarried in the mountains above the famous Italian town of Carrara. The Petacchi quarry yields this grey/white variety which has striations of grey veining and has a high content of magnesium, so the marble can live outdoors in cold climates. Since the …
Posted in Art Education & Appreciation, Creative Process, Sculpture
Tagged artist, carrara, carving, cutting stone, fine art, fretting, grinding, Italian, Italy, marble, Michael Binkley, sculpting, sculptor, Sculpture, stone
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Fibonacci and the Golden Ratio
This short film is beautifully crafted in CGI by Cristobal Vila and illustrates the Fibonacci sequence, as well as Delaunay Triangulation and Voronoi Tessellations. It begins with showing how the nautilus builds the chambers of its shell to accommodate its body’s growth, and moves on to the sunflower and the dragonfly. My friend, Briar Cook made me aware of this film and it is ironic that I was first made aware of the name Fibonacci by her father, Alleyne, our gardening mentor. Many years ago, Alleyne explained the mathematics behind the pattern that sunflower seeds form as they grow in …
Granite Bowl Sink
I came home from work the other night, and voila! – there on the kitchen counter was Michael’s latest creation. I am so spoiled. He carved a large granite boulder into a sink for our guest bathroom renovation which should be done sometime this spring. We had discussed colour palette and “look and feel” of the bathroom. I said to Michael; “well really you SHOULD carve the sink before we source out a cabinet, colours textures, right?”. And he did. I’ll keep you in the loop and refer back to this post when the renovation is under way. All I …
Tribute to a Well-Loved Wag
Dear Scully, I heard the news of your passing while at work today and after composing myself in the bathroom for tearful eyes and a foggy head, I decided to write a few words to let the world know all about my friend, the black and white beauty. I met you when you were but a young pup, in the back seat of your Mom’s car outside her work. You were composed and dignified and shook my hand. You soon became a member of the family and a leg of a tripod between yourself and L2s – you just as …
Happy Chinese New Year – 2012 The Year of the Dragon
Happy New Year! Today marks the Year of the Dragon – the ‘Water’ Dragon in particular. Sometimes referred to as a ‘new moon day’, today marks the beginning of the first day of the first Chinese (calendar) lunar month. The exact time is 15:40 in China’s time zone. A quote from this website to predict the characteristics of 2012; “While the Year of the Rabbit was characterized by calm and tranquility, the Year of the Dragon will be marked by excitement, unpredictability, exhilaration and intensity. The Rabbit imbues people with a sense of cautious optimism, but people respond to the spirit …
