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Laughing Mantis Studio

Art inspired by biology, created by a biologist

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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.
Immediately after finishing Boba Fett, I had this Immediately after finishing Boba Fett, I had this random idea to make a jumping spider close-up. I oscillate between wildlife and geek art and I felt it’s time to return to my roots for a bit, including using all natural wood (no stain/paint). So I grabbed a bunch of reference photos with attribution Creative Commons licenses (Flickr) and got to work. As always, all pieces are cut on scrollsaw, in this case, exclusively using my scrap collection. Species: maple (regular and curly), walnut, mesquite, ipe, katalox, ebony, holly, cherry, & rubber tree (reclaimed from a cheap old jewelry box). The main image upon which this is roughly based is “Come Closer, Jumping Spider” by Diaz Gio (@godzaid @giochimitsu), who has some amazing photography and an art account). ... #scrollsawart #spiderart #jumpingspider #woodenart #scrollsaw #woodintarsia #madeinpittsburgh
Projects of 2020: I guess I made some things. 202 Projects of 2020: I guess I made some things. 2020 sucked. It’s certainly been a struggle for me as I imagine it’s been for most of you. But I’m incredibly thankful 1) to have been lucky enough to go through it with my rock @tamarynart @tam_a_ryn, 2) that our 14 yr old multi-system failing pup Bandit has managed to keep kicking, despite multiple times we were certain he was done - his constant cuddles have been a mental health boon for both of us, (swipe for pics) and 3) to have the space and the means to forget our stresses, just zone out, and make art. My shop is tiny, dirty, cold, and inefficient, but there was a time just a few years back when such a dedicated shop space was almost completely unimaginable in my future. So in reality, our little one car garage has become my dream come true. But yeah... good riddance to the Lost Year.
Boba Fett is complete! It only took ~6 weeks! When Boba Fett is complete! It only took ~6 weeks! When I started this thing, I had no idea Boba would suddenly become big news again (no spoilers, aside from the fact Fett is back, which I think is safe since they’ve announced “The Story of Boba Fett” series). I had just read a really cool panel by @john_cassaday in Marvel Star Wars (2015) and instantly decided it would make for a cool wooden intarsia piece. I wanted more “comicy” colors in this piece than I can get with natural wood grains, so I dyed the pieces with alcohol dyes. All 270 (!) pieces were cut on scrollsaw from a single storm-felled sycamore branch I picked up nearby. ... #bobafett #starwarsfanart #scrollsawart #woodart #marvelstarwars
A little closer. I’m digging the spirit stains/c A little closer. I’m digging the spirit stains/comic booky look (not that it’s even close to the more comic style of @scrollsawscribbler, with his wenge background “ink lines”). Original inspiration: Marvel Star Wars panel by @john_cassaday. ... #starearsfanart #bobafett #mandalorian #marvelstarwars #maytheforcebewithyou
This has been a slooooow piece in the making, but This has been a slooooow piece in the making, but I’m pretty stoked to have all the pieces cut, shaped, and sanded. Next up will be staining. I’m incredibly nervous about the next step, which may not turn out how I envision. Mixing spirit stains to get the correct hue is not easy. It’s nothing like mixing paint. Combine that with wanting the natural wood grain to still be somewhat detectable, and it becomes quite a challenge. Based on my previous experiments with spirit stains, I don’t expect the woodgrain to be very visible - at least with sycamore and its fairly consistent grain density. So wish me luck! As mentioned previously, this is based on a Marvel Star Wars (2015) panel by @john_cassaday. ... #starwarsfanart #maytheforcebewithyou #bobafett #marvelstarwars #scrollsawart #mandalorian
As per my now-standard practice, for those not fol As per my now-standard practice, for those not following my stories here is a roughly mid-progress post on a new wooden intarsia piece I’ve been working on. Boba Fett himself is based on the amazing artwork of @john_cassaday from Marvel Star Wars (2015-2019) #4. But it will have a slightly different background from the original art. If you’re a regular follower, you know I’m a ridiculous SW fan. But I only recently started going through the canon comics, having never been much of a comic book guy. Man there are so many panels that made me want to instantly start making wooden versions. This is one of them. My plan at the moment is to use spirit stains or watercolors after shaping each of the 150-200(?) pieces. I usually use natural wood color. But that just doesn’t work for greens... so this is a perfect excuse to use up some of my free storm-felled sycamore I milled this spring. As always, everything is cut on scrollsaw. ... #starwarsfanart #maytheforcebewithyou #bobafett #marvelstarwars #scrollsawart
Indian Elephant Baby Rattle. Walnut & cherry. Fin Indian Elephant Baby Rattle. Walnut & cherry. Finally got this little guy finished! ... #woodenbabyrattle #babytoys #babyrattle #elephantart #scrollsawart
I just gotta take a second and give it up to Harve I just gotta take a second and give it up to Harvey Guillén AKA Guillermo de la Cruz (@harveyguillen) for being an awesome human being. Seriously, he was incredibly encouraging and funny throughout the entire process of creating this piece. And I couldn’t be more satisfied seeing it now in his hands. Bring on the next season of What We Do in the Shadows! I can’t wait to see what’s next for Guillermo! ... #whatwedointheshadows #teamguillermo #harveyguillen #wwdits #wwditsfanart
It’s happened! My work is now in the hands of th It’s happened! My work is now in the hands of the actor who played the character on which one of my wooden artworks is based! This is “Guillermo” from “What We Do in the Shadows”, as played by the fabulous @harveyguillen. It actually arrived at his office a few months ago the day AFTER he left to go do film magic stuff in a far off land. But he made it safely back home to find it waiting in La La Land. My day is made!! PS everyone should watch this show. PPS special thanks to his sister (I think) for fixing a letter or two that did not survive transit intact. ... #wwdits #whatwedointheshadows #harveyguillen #fanart #scrollsawart #woodintarsia
Love the way the sunlight very briefly hits my new Love the way the sunlight very briefly hits my new table through the tiny basement glass block window. #maytheforcebewithyou #starwarsfan #furnituredesign
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