Inspiration
If it wasn't for a handful of incredible artists, makers, and entrepreneurs that sparked my internal creativity and passion, I am not sure that I would have ever ended up on the path that I am on now. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the community of artists, clock makers, and engineers who came before me. They fuel my creativity and motivate me to create endless variations of unique designs and movements.
In 2012, I discovered the work of Clayton Boyer's Celestial Calendar in a Popular Mechanics article. This was, and continues to be one of the coolest creations I have ever seen. This single image exemplifies my dream, mission, and motivation for creating mechanical artwork. Clayton Boyer has many other amazing designs on his website that you should check out.
In 2012, I discovered the work of Clayton Boyer's Celestial Calendar in a Popular Mechanics article. This was, and continues to be one of the coolest creations I have ever seen. This single image exemplifies my dream, mission, and motivation for creating mechanical artwork. Clayton Boyer has many other amazing designs on his website that you should check out.
Continued exploration of the subculture of wooden clock making and kinetic art led me to more and more artists that have provided crucial inspiration. One of the most predominant influences is David C. Roy, owner of Wood That Works. For more than 40 years, David has been creating ingenious works of art. One of my personal favorites is Aperture (pictured below).
In my mind, these guys are the superstars of the mechanical artwork world; the Michael Jordan and Larry Bird of wooden clock making and kinetic sculptures.
While these specific artists have been a huge inspiration, I continue to be inspired by general examples of mechanical engineering each and every day. Most people do not associate the words "beautiful" or "inspiring" with things like industrial machinery, automotive transmissions, and lawn mower engines. However, it only takes a few minutes of studying these mechanisms to realize that these creations are truly amazing. Many mechanical designs have been developed and iterated on for decades or even centuries, each engineer carrying the torch a little further than their predecessor. Today, these mechanisms are so optimized, reliable, and efficient that we often times forget they exist. This is why one of my missions is to share this marriage of beauty and science with others.
I consistently reference my favorite books, Ingenious Mechanisms and Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, for an inexhaustible supply of inspiration. It is amazing to learn what mechanical devices could accomplish on their own before computers became the primary method of controlling and interfacing with machinery.
While these specific artists have been a huge inspiration, I continue to be inspired by general examples of mechanical engineering each and every day. Most people do not associate the words "beautiful" or "inspiring" with things like industrial machinery, automotive transmissions, and lawn mower engines. However, it only takes a few minutes of studying these mechanisms to realize that these creations are truly amazing. Many mechanical designs have been developed and iterated on for decades or even centuries, each engineer carrying the torch a little further than their predecessor. Today, these mechanisms are so optimized, reliable, and efficient that we often times forget they exist. This is why one of my missions is to share this marriage of beauty and science with others.
I consistently reference my favorite books, Ingenious Mechanisms and Mechanisms and Mechanical Devices Sourcebook, for an inexhaustible supply of inspiration. It is amazing to learn what mechanical devices could accomplish on their own before computers became the primary method of controlling and interfacing with machinery.