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Laughing Mantis Studio

Art inspired by biology, created by a biologist

  • The Art of Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D.
    • Woodworking
    • Pastel Pencil
    • Graphite Pencil
    • 3D Digital Art
    • 2D Digital Art
    • Paintings
    • Sculptures
    • Pet Portraits
    • Jewelry & Hangers
    • 3D Animation
    • Ocean Invasion Series
    • Science Art
  • Shop
  • Exhibitions
  • About

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You can see my frequently-updated works-in-progress by following @laughingmantisstudio

laughingmantisstudio

Daniel D. Brown, Ph.D. | Breast Cancer Research Scientist
Woodworker/Artist
Husband to @tamarynart.
AKA: @danieldbrownphd
Pittsburgh, PA.
I’ve started a new project. Jabba’s/Boba’s P I’ve started a new project. Jabba’s/Boba’s Palace. A remake of an old one (hopefully a better version. It’s certainly way more complicated). As always, follow my stories if you want to see it come together. It will be made from sycamore, lombardy poplar, hickory, walnut, wenge, bocote, bloodwood, padauk, purpleheart, & chakte viga. Not sure yet for the sky. … #scrollsawart #woodworking #starwarsfan #bobafett #jabbathehutt #geek #geekart #starwars #bookofbobafett #mandalorian
It’s that time when I say “I made some things It’s that time when I say “I made some things this year.” I ain’t gonna lie; it was incredibly difficult getting motivated to work on projects this year. But I managed to kick myself in the ass in between bouts of just lying on the couch and staring at my phone way too much. On top of all the trauma we have shared as a society, @tam_a_ryn and I had to watch our furry son Bandit slowly lose his faculties and die in April. I know many have lost loved ones this year thanks to covid. We’ve so far avoided that thanks to luck, extreme caution, vaccines, and boosters. Go science! But I imagine our numbers will be called soon. It’s an asymmetric evolutionary arms race. I’ve been a biomedical scientist for decades now if you didn’t know, so if you don’t like the above, you’re following the wrong dude. But it hasn’t all been dire. You guys have seen our new little Kylo pup, right? (Swipe). Holy crap he’s an amazingly adorable, rambunctious, ornery, cuddly little being. I’m so incredibly thankful we rescued him! Speaking of thankful… wow… I just can’t even imagine how I’d have made it through the past couple years without my rock, my love, Tamaryn (@tam_a_ryn). We make a great team. She’s my reason, inspiration, and motivation. I also want to give a little shoutout to a source of joy for us this year: the friendship we’ve formed with the “Sunflower family” Beth @bethanyann137, Louie, and their younglings. Scroll down to my sunflower project to see how we met. It’s a great story involving flowers, wood, and good people. Turns out they’re a beautiful family and are now among our best friends as far as we’re concerned. Oh and I also have to shoutout fellow geek and woodworker Luke @cyclocrosscutter. I’m glad to have to have such a good virtual frenemy to talk shit to in between nerding out over all things geek. His taste in fantasy and sci-fi is far superior to his woodworking skills. 😂🖕 Thanks for Mjolnir.
“Spider-Man: Miles Morales” is finally complet “Spider-Man: Miles Morales” is finally complete! Over 250 pieces of wood from 5 species, hand-cut on scrollsaw. No paints or stains - only natural wood colors (except the web). Built from bloodwood, wenge, walnut, purpleheart, and holly. The web was cut from high-density polyethylene (HDPE). This piece is based on the final shot in the @insomniacgames Miles Morales game (it’s amazing!), which I screen-grabbed myself many months back. The moment I saw it I thought it would make a great wooden piece, though it took a while to convince myself I could pull it off. I initially intended to include a background with Peter’s version of Spidey swinging behind him as well. But once I realized how complex and time-consuming Miles would be, I decided on a solo no-background piece. This work took almost a full month to complete. Ihave no idea how many hours total, but it was in the many dozens. Obviously I took some artistic liberties with the suit; I really wanted to include some purpleheart. I made the blurred New York street background just for fun, from an in-focus photo from the Wikipedia entry on William Street in Manhattan (credit “MusikAnimal” Creative Commons license 4.0) … #milesmorales #spiderman #marvelcomics #marvel #comics #scrollsaw #scrollsawart #woodsculpture #woodworking #intarsia #woodintarsia #pittsburghartists #madeinpittsburgh
When I woke this morning, I decided I wanted to ma When I woke this morning, I decided I wanted to make @tam_a_ryn something for Christmas Eve while she worked. So I grabbed a piece of scrap bloodwood and carved this Celtic heart knot. Just a quick little thing. I got the idea a while back from @black_shadowdesign’s page, which I saved for a day like today (I HIGHLY recommend you check out all the cool carved pendants over there. Beautiful work!). … #christmasgiftsideas #celticknot #woodcarving #scrollsawart
How I achieve depth. For overall depth, I use vary How I achieve depth. For overall depth, I use varying thickness backers (I save all thin scrap so I have a wide selection of ply, mdf, and lumber). So for many pieces, there’s essentially a whole separate build beneath the main artwork. I try to hide the backers by beveling them inward, scrollsaw cutting at an angle and also grinding it down with a dremel after glue up. The second level of depth is of course adjusted using different thickness stock for the main pieces and then shaping them further.
Not exactly an exciting post, but I recently built Not exactly an exciting post, but I recently built some floating shelves at @tam_a_ryn’s request. Made from the European cherry tree our next door neighbors cut down and rolled into our yard for me. I milled some of it up and it’s been drying in my shop for over a year. Or two? Can’t even remember. Oh and if anyone wants to know, I just used the super basic floating shelf hardware from Rockler. 2 metal rods. Drill holes in the shelf. Chisel a slight inlay for the metal plate. Screw plate into stud. That’s it. Definitely sturdy enough for these with just a friction fit. … #floatingshelves
For those not following my stories, I’m making Q For those not following my stories, I’m making Q from Star Trek. 🤪 #hashtag
Our new friends @afonticiella and Chris lost a bel Our new friends @afonticiella and Chris lost a beloved apple tree to rot and storm. They’ve had a few pieces sitting in their garage since spring. So I told them to give me some of it and I’d make something. I managed to power carve a bowl, make a small cutting board and a few coasters. It still had pretty high moisture content, but I sped the drying process along by using my man cave with space heater as a kiln 😂 Swipe to see us together when I gave them the end results. PS Albert is a fellow Star Wars fan. So obviously I had to make a rebel insignia too. lol
#chatoyance “having a changeable luster or color #chatoyance “having a changeable luster or color with an undulating narrow band of white light” Essentially as the direction/orientation of the wood fibers change (or you in relation to them), so does the amount and direction of reflected light. The effect can be particularly stunning in woods with wavy (“curly”) fibers and other “figured” patterns. This is just some partially spalted yellowheart that will be the base for a random Doctor Strange-inspired clock I’m making on a whim.
This isn’t very interesting but I like having a This isn’t very interesting but I like having a record of the things I make, even the boring stuff. I was tired of my $20 garage sale router table and my belt sander sitting on an unmovable desk in the back of my shop. Every time I used either, it made a mess in an inconvenient place to clean up. So I decided I needed them on something I can roll over to the garage door, where it’s easier to clean. I also needed some drawer/cabinet storage (I essentially had none). I did a quick search and found Brad @fixthisbuildthat had plans for a lathe stand that looked perfectly sized for what I wanted. So instead of spending a dumb amount of time designing something, I bought his plans for $9. He even had a video on the build. For this I just wanted quick, easy, and functional. I cut some corners, used a hodge podge of scrap, and now finally have a place for all my bits and accoutrements for my spinning tools. It rolls around smoothly and locks into place. I may put a finish on it if I feel like it someday. Or I may not. Mix of oak and pine plywood. With custom black locust drawer pulls I made in like 15 minutes.
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