Weird and Wacky Engineering
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Max the Magnificent
Hmmmm - that could look interesting -- I may play with that in the future -- but ...
Dave620
You could also use discarded/defective chips. The reflective surface would make ...
Life is a mosaic of pleasure and pain…
Clive Maxfield
12/5/2011 3:42 PM EST
As if I didn’t already have enough hobby projects … I just decided that I want to recreate The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh in mosaic…
“What?” I hear you cry, “But what about the Stone Age diorama you are planning to build in your 1950s television set?” (Click Here for more details on that project).
Well, fear not my brave ones because there is nothing to fear but fear itself. That project is still rolling merrily along – I’m currently experimenting with different techniques to achieve a realistic stone texture for the inside of my cave. Also, I don’t mind saying that it’s %^&* cold working on the main TV cabinet in my garage at the moment, let me tell you.
Fortunately, a (real) man can have more than one hobby project on the go if he wishes … and the fact that I usually have many more than that just goes to show what a manly man I am (is this the cue for a song?)
I was about to say that I’m not sure how this current mosaic project came about… but just as I started to pen this sentence it all flooded back to me. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I became the proud owner of a 4200 year old clay tablet (Click Here to see that blog). As fate would have it, this tablet was accompanied by a catalog, which my wife (Gina The Gorgeous) confiscated for her own perusal.
After a while I heard a squeal of excitement. It didn’t take long for me to assure myself that I wasn’t the one who was doing the squealing, so I checked to see what Gina was up to. It turned out that one of the things she’d discovered in the catalog was a rather cool Roman mosaic. Gina explained that would look wonderful in our family room. I’m sure it would … but since the price was around $7,500 (Gina hadn’t noticed that part), I’m equally sure that we are never going to find out (grin).
But this started me thinking that I would quite like to make my own mosaic – it’s just the sort of nit-picky finicky thing that would appeal to an anal retentive personality and – of course – I R an Engineer :-)
So I started looking around. First of all I found what looks to be a really good book on Amazon: Mosaic Techniques & Traditions: Projects & Designs from Around the World by Sonia King. This book covers the history of mosaics (I do like to know where things come from) along with tools, materials, and techniques, including bases, adhesives, and grout; shaping and placing tesserae; practical and artistic design considerations; and several methods of creating the actual mosaic. Apart from anything else, this little scamp has a bunch of great reviews, so I’ve added it to my Christmas wish list.
The next thing I need is an image to create. I’m not known for doing things in a small way. I’m thinking of a monster picture about 5 feet x 4 feet in size. Something that will cause people to gasp with astonishment and say “Good Grief, that’s huge!” (If only I had a coconut for every time I’ve heard that… :-)
Now, I’m still open to suggestions, but I really think that The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh would offer a great target project. On the one hand it certainly is challenging; but on the other hand we have a fairly limited color palette. Also, I think it will help that anyone who sees it will already be at least aware of the original. And, of course, there’s also the fact that Vincent and this painting featured in the tenth episode in the fifth series of Doctor Who, when the Doctor and Amy travel to Provence, meet Vincent, and help him fight a dangerous alien only he (van Gogh) can see.
As fate would have it, it seems that I am not the only person to think about creating my own interpretation of Starry Night. I just ran across an interesting website where we find offerings like Gotham Starry Night, Hello (Kitty) Starry Night, and many others.
Click Here to see this website. One that I find particularly interesting is Muslim Starry Night – I really like the reds and oranges in the lower right-hand corner; maybe I will incorporate these colors back into my humble offering.
Sad to relate, I am a little booked up for the next couple of weeks, but that’s OK because it will allow me to gather the requisite tools and materials… I will report back in the fullness of time… watch this space…
Last but not least – just in case you were wondering – the title for this blog came from a quote by the renowned Indian Guru Śri Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away in April of this year. The full quote is as follows:
And who amongst us could argue with this?
If you found this article to be amusing and/or of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
“What?” I hear you cry, “But what about the Stone Age diorama you are planning to build in your 1950s television set?” (Click Here for more details on that project).
Well, fear not my brave ones because there is nothing to fear but fear itself. That project is still rolling merrily along – I’m currently experimenting with different techniques to achieve a realistic stone texture for the inside of my cave. Also, I don’t mind saying that it’s %^&* cold working on the main TV cabinet in my garage at the moment, let me tell you.
Fortunately, a (real) man can have more than one hobby project on the go if he wishes … and the fact that I usually have many more than that just goes to show what a manly man I am (is this the cue for a song?)
I was about to say that I’m not sure how this current mosaic project came about… but just as I started to pen this sentence it all flooded back to me. Do you remember a few weeks ago when I became the proud owner of a 4200 year old clay tablet (Click Here to see that blog). As fate would have it, this tablet was accompanied by a catalog, which my wife (Gina The Gorgeous) confiscated for her own perusal.
After a while I heard a squeal of excitement. It didn’t take long for me to assure myself that I wasn’t the one who was doing the squealing, so I checked to see what Gina was up to. It turned out that one of the things she’d discovered in the catalog was a rather cool Roman mosaic. Gina explained that would look wonderful in our family room. I’m sure it would … but since the price was around $7,500 (Gina hadn’t noticed that part), I’m equally sure that we are never going to find out (grin).
But this started me thinking that I would quite like to make my own mosaic – it’s just the sort of nit-picky finicky thing that would appeal to an anal retentive personality and – of course – I R an Engineer :-)
So I started looking around. First of all I found what looks to be a really good book on Amazon: Mosaic Techniques & Traditions: Projects & Designs from Around the World by Sonia King. This book covers the history of mosaics (I do like to know where things come from) along with tools, materials, and techniques, including bases, adhesives, and grout; shaping and placing tesserae; practical and artistic design considerations; and several methods of creating the actual mosaic. Apart from anything else, this little scamp has a bunch of great reviews, so I’ve added it to my Christmas wish list.
The next thing I need is an image to create. I’m not known for doing things in a small way. I’m thinking of a monster picture about 5 feet x 4 feet in size. Something that will cause people to gasp with astonishment and say “Good Grief, that’s huge!” (If only I had a coconut for every time I’ve heard that… :-)
Now, I’m still open to suggestions, but I really think that The Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh would offer a great target project. On the one hand it certainly is challenging; but on the other hand we have a fairly limited color palette. Also, I think it will help that anyone who sees it will already be at least aware of the original. And, of course, there’s also the fact that Vincent and this painting featured in the tenth episode in the fifth series of Doctor Who, when the Doctor and Amy travel to Provence, meet Vincent, and help him fight a dangerous alien only he (van Gogh) can see.
The original Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh
As fate would have it, it seems that I am not the only person to think about creating my own interpretation of Starry Night. I just ran across an interesting website where we find offerings like Gotham Starry Night, Hello (Kitty) Starry Night, and many others.
Gotham Starry Night
Click Here to see this website. One that I find particularly interesting is Muslim Starry Night – I really like the reds and oranges in the lower right-hand corner; maybe I will incorporate these colors back into my humble offering.
Sad to relate, I am a little booked up for the next couple of weeks, but that’s OK because it will allow me to gather the requisite tools and materials… I will report back in the fullness of time… watch this space…
Last but not least – just in case you were wondering – the title for this blog came from a quote by the renowned Indian Guru Śri Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away in April of this year. The full quote is as follows:
Life is a mosaic of pleasure and pain – grief is an interval between two moments of joy. Peace is the interlude between two wars. You have no rose without a thorn; the diligent picker will avoid the pricks and gather the flower. There is no bee without the sting; cleverness consists in gathering the honey nevertheless.
And who amongst us could argue with this?
If you found this article to be amusing and/or of interest, visit Programmable Logic Designline where – in addition to my blogs on all sorts of "stuff" (also check out my Max's Cool Beans blog) – you will find the latest and greatest design, technology, product, and news articles with regard to programmable logic devices of every flavor and size (FPGAs, CPLDs, CSSPs, PSoCs...).
Also, you can obtain a highlights update delivered directly to your inbox by signing up for my weekly newsletter – just Click Here to request this newsletter using the Manage Newsletters tab (if you aren't already a member you'll be asked to register, but it's free and painless so don't let that stop you [grin]).
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David Ashton
12/6/2011 3:00 AM EST
Anything van Gogh always reminds me of "Vincent" by Don Mclean (which of course opens "Starry starry night..." Good choice Max, but it will be a lot of work I'm sure. BTW, if you're ever in Amsterdam, visit the VG museum, very worthwhile.
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Max the Magnificent
12/6/2011 9:43 AM EST
## ... starry starry night...
Now I can;t get that tune out of my noggin...
## ...ever in Amsterdam...
I've been there a couple of times but never had time to visit the museum -- I have to start taking the time to "smell the roses"
I visited a Picasso museum in Hamburg once -- that was very interesting -- I'd love to see van Gogh's paintings in the flesh as it were... if I ever get back to Amsterdam I will make a point of it...
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Naomi Price
12/6/2011 9:34 AM EST
Max, you never cease to amaze...who else could weave together a Guru quote (deep and meaningful) and Starry Night with a Batman symbol (odd and quite geeky) and make it all sound, well, pretty cool?!
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Max the Magnificent
12/6/2011 9:59 AM EST
## ... who else could...
I give up -- who? :-)
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WKetel
12/9/2011 9:15 PM EST
You can create your artwork, or at least software versions of it using any number of cad programs, and then to produce the physical works, you can email it to someplace like Kinkos, at least, I used to be able to do that. IT was the best value anywhere, in that I could design an entire control panel with labels and graphics, and email them the file, and a day later pick it up, printed on adhesive backed vinyl with a clear lexan overlay, all for around $16 per square foot. The engraved tags that this was replacing cost about $3 each, which was a bout $1 per square inch. So the printed labels were much cheaper, but the vinyl labels were adequate for the project environment, much faster to get, looked better, were simpler to install, and cheaper as well.
So I think that could be a relatively cheaper way to make your art.
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Max the Magnificent
12/14/2011 12:17 PM EST
But I want to make my mosaic out of small ceramic tiles...
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Wnderer
12/14/2011 12:35 PM EST
You should make your mosaic out of small ceramic capacitors and resistors.
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Max the Magnificent
12/14/2011 12:49 PM EST
Ooooohhhhh ... that's a clever idea ... in fact I could use all sorts of electronic components...
...actually, I'm already working on the ceramic tiles, but maybe when this first one is finished I will do a second version -- exactly the same size but using electronic components as the mosaic "tiles"....
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antedeluvian
12/14/2011 4:24 PM EST
If and when you get to using electronic components you should know it is possible to dye certain plastics with fabric dye. We found it works best on nylons, but I guess you will have to try it out.
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Duane Benson
12/14/2011 4:47 PM EST
You could lay it out in your CAD package for SMT capacitors and resistors. Start with 1206 size and then move on to smaller form factors to create ever smaller mobile size mosaics from the same design.
Send it off to your friendly neighborhood pick and place machine and make as many as you want.
Or, is that cheating?
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Dave620
8/30/2012 8:20 AM EDT
You could also use discarded/defective chips. The reflective surface would make an interesting background. Maybe get a rainbow for free !
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Max the Magnificent
8/30/2012 10:18 AM EDT
Hmmmm - that could look interesting -- I may play with that in the future -- but at the moment I just ordered a small test kiln and I'm planning on glazing my own tiles ... keep your fingers crossed for me :-)
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seaEE
12/14/2011 11:50 PM EST
Having a lot of hobbies is a great thing, however I'm a little concerned that with less time being able to be devoted to a particular hobby, you may learn to play the ukelele poorly, which would not be a good thing (although I suppose it could be used nefariously)!
I think two other hobbies you should develop are creating stained glass windows and the art of illuminating manuscripts. How about an illuminted EETimes?
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Max the Magnificent
12/15/2011 5:43 AM EST
## ... you may learn to play the ukelele poorly
I've already learned to play it poorly ... the trick is to learn to play it well (grin)
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