Mesa Stone Arts

Some custom lettering tools I made.

Part of my apprenticeship with Nathen Blackwell. I have to make my own chisels. Cutting a slot in a chisel shank, silver solder a piece of tungsten carbide, then trim the carbide. Nice to be able to make a custom chisel for the job.

Two weeks ago my friend and teacher Nathen Blackwell retired from carving donor names in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
I have been his apprentice for five years. It has been understood that someday I would take his place. Now that day is here.
Nathen is a demanding teacher and I wouldn't have it any other way. Not only a master course in carving, but I had to learn to make my own tools. Nathen had a lot of people to choose from, he chose me. The finest compliment I have ever received.
If you're wondering about the tie. Nathen is English and trained me in the English school of carving. That means a shirt and tie. And, well, it is a presidential library.

Nathen Blackwell and one of his countless admirers. For 25 years Nathen has been carving donor names at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. He carved the headstone for President and Mrs. Reagan and many of projects around the Library. Two weeks ago he retired. Nathen considered his service in the Library to be the defining experience and pinnacle of a stone carving career spanning 73 years. It is a privilege to know him.

I got to do a project I had never done before. A turned fountain finial in grain matched Texas Creme Limestone. A VERY steep learning curve! But for a first effort, I'm pretty happy with it. PS: I hope my client likes it too.

Apprenticeship over. Now the real work begins.
Nathen is having me carve finished work in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

I moved up from apprentice to journeyman today. Nathen signed off on my alphabet.
Now the real work begins!

Nathen Blackwell has added another item to my apprentice syllabus. From now on I must make my own chisels.
Fitting a tungsten carbide bit to a steel shank, brazing and grinding the finished shape and sharpening.

I had a nice lettering job saturday. What made it so nice? I was in the shade!

I'm pretty happy with the way this turned out. 3 inch Lucida Calligraphic Italic. In Santa Barbara sandstone.

Documentary film maker Steven C. Barber is making a short feature on my mentor Nathen Blackwell. I was also interviewed today at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
I might be in a movie!

Chopped out first time around.
1 5/8 Friz Quadrata in French Limestone.
If anyone can identify the quarry I would appreciate it.