J.R. Goslant – Page 2 – Astrolabe Arts

Stacking Stones

Years ago when I lived in New Hampshire I spent a lot of hot summer afternoons down by the river, but instead of swimming, I stacked and balanced stones into towers, arches, and different designs. A few friends joined in making a few smaller, but more artistic pieces and helped with the creation of our heaviest tower. It’s something I miss dearly and would love to do again someday.

Artist: J.R. Goslant

OLYMArtist: J.R. Goslant

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

https://www.facebook.com/AstrolabeArts/

March 10, 2016March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: PhotographyTags: J.R. Goslant, new hampshire, NH, Photography, stone balancing, stone stacking, summer Leave a comment

Ancient Egyptian Scarab Necklace

While looking through an assortment of beads I received as a gift, a number of ancient Egyptian ones caught my eye and coalesced into the necklace you see now. The red pendant came with a paper stating it’s from the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago which had an exhibit for King Tutankhamen. The pendants were rediscovered on the estate of a man who worked there at the time.

The other beads are carved to resemble traditional Egyptian dedications of the scarab beetle which features prominently in some versions of the Egyptian creation myth.

If you’re interested in purchasing this necklace you can contact me, or visit the Astrolabe Arts Etsy shop in the links below.

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

https://www.facebook.com/AstrolabeArts/

March 5, 2016March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: JewelryTags: amulet, ancient Egyptian, bead work, beads, Egyptian amulet, Egyptian pendant, J.R. Goslant, King Tut, necklace, pendant, scarab, Tutankhamen, vintage Leave a comment

Just A Little Somethin’ For My Grandma

Like the title suggests, I made this for my Grandmother. It was her birthday last month and so I decided to make her a necklace featuring her favorite colors and her birthstone, amethyst. She loves her jewelry with big fixtures and bold colors.

Artist: J.R. Goslant

GIFT

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

https://www.facebook.com/AstrolabeArts/

March 5, 2016March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: JewelryTags: amethyst, beads, birthday gift, J.R. Goslant, Jewelry, necklace, wire wrapping Leave a comment

Pagan Themed Staff

Artist: J.R. Goslant SOLD

This was my first commission piece: a friend requested a “pagan” staff with a few specific symbols to give as a Christmas gift.

The handle grip is black rawhide bordered with brown at the top and bottom. Attached are two strands of carved beads and pieces of hematite.

At the very top is a green gemstone wrapped with rawhide and just below it are a compass rose and pentacle etched with a wood burner.

While googling various designs and cultural motifs I came across a wonderful Viking dragon, or serpent and burned one onto each side of the staff. Wrapping down and around the main body is another, simpler and stylized Viking serpent. Serpents, and dragons, are important mythological figures around the world and don’t always represent evil, or sinister beings. They often represent power and rebirth since they shed their skin. Inside the serpent are the Elder Futhark rune set and “May the Force be with you.”

The final two symbols are a horizontal crescent with three raindrop shapes signifying a goddess and a spiral representing a spiritual journey. Two pieces of garnet accompany the spiral and have different meanings depending on what source is consulted, but in this symbolize power and spiritual dreaming.

The final staff stands at about five feet and has a few coats of polyurethane finish. Everything was colored using metallic ink and a bronze permanent marker.

SOLD

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

https://www.facebook.com/AstrolabeArts/

February 12, 2016March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: Staffs and Hiking SticksTags: dragon, handmade, hiking stick, J.R. Goslant, pagan, serpent, staff, the Force, Viking Leave a comment

Dinosaur Fossil Hiking Stick

Artist: J.R. Goslant SOLD

Who doesn’t love dinosaurs? I’d be lying if I said “Jurassic World” didn’t help inspire this piece as you may have guessed from the mosasaur skeleton depicted.

From top to bottom there is a Utah Raptor (“Jurassic Park” Velociraptor), Mosasaur, and a Brachiosaurus wrapped around the staff a few times. There are also 3 ammonite fossils embedded and bordered with rawhide. Each fossil skeleton was created using a wood burner, and it came out pretty well even though it was my first time using one. And of course, there’s a few coats of polyurethane to give the stick a nice sheen.

The hiking staff is about 55″, or roughly 4.5 feet tall.

This was a very fun piece to make and a great introduction to wood burning.

SOLD

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

https://www.facebook.com/AstrolabeArts

November 29, 2015March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: Staffs and Hiking SticksTags: brachiosaurus, dinosaur, dinosaurs, fossil, fossils, handmade, hiking stick, J.R. Goslant, jurassic park, jurassic world, mosasaur, mosasaurus, staff, utah raptor, velociraptor, wood burning Leave a comment

Native American Hiking Stick

Artist: J.R. Goslant SOLD

I’ve always admired Native American culture and aesthetics and thought I could make a great cultural themed hiking stick, so I did.

There are 7 (6 distinct) symbols drawn on with metallic ink; a section wrapped with tan rawhide and bordered with black for grasping; seashells, beads, and feathers hanging from the side; two pieces of turquoise embedded; a purple gemstone on the top and it’s a few inches under 6’6″. It’s also been covered with a few coats of polyurethane, except for under the rawhide since the coatings were an afterthought.

The symbols depicted are 2 eagles, a kokopelli, turtle, bear, medicine wheel, and symbol for the sun. Symbols vary in their depictions and meanings depending on the tribe, but the overall meanings for each symbol used are as follows:

Eagle: Our national bird was deeply revered by Native Americans and represented numerous traits, but chief among them were courage, wisdom, and truth. Variations of those traits are also represented like honor, power, and freedom.

Kokopelli: This is a popular symbol even today and originates in the American Southwest. The mythical figure was believed to be the harbinger of Spring, playing his flute and dancing, the Kokopelli would spread joy and harmony while bringing the warmer months with him from village to village. He is also a potent symbol for agriculture and fertility.

Bear: Most animals symbols represent characteristics the animal itself possesses. The bear is the same way representing both strength and courage as well as motherhood (and other things associated with those like childbirth) because of how fiercely mother bears will protect their young.

Turtle: The slow, but steady turtle represents health and long life since they themselves live a long time, some live longer than humans. It’s also representative of protection and the ability to overcome and preserver as the shell allows the turtle to do.

Medicine Wheel: This is a very important symbol containing lots of information. It shows the cardinal directions and also the earth, sky, and circle of life. Each section is also associated with its own animal and color.

Sun Symbol: It obviously symbolizes the sun and played a large role in all ancient cultures since it is literally what makes life on Earth possible. It can represent powerful deities who were the “givers,” or “bringers” of light.

SOLD

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

Astrolabe Arts

November 3, 2015March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: Staffs and Hiking SticksTags: Artwork, beads, feathers, handmade, hiking stick, J.R. Goslant, native american, seashells, staff, symbolic, symbols, turquoise Leave a comment

Ceremonial Wizard Staff

Artist: J.R. Goslant SOLD

I’ve finally finished it! A 6’6″ wizard staff! Started this piece a few years ago and added to it over time: first I found the stick, of course, and given its unique grooves I glued and embedded numerous crystals, shells, rocks, glass, and some coral into said grooves.

The vine (it’s actually a root) was uprooted by a friend attempting to build something in the woods. I kept it because it was extremely flexible and with a little time left to soak in some water it became bendable enough to wrap it more tightly around the branch.

Streaming down from the root are several strings of rawhide supporting beads, feathers, and animal bones. Most of the feathers came from blue-jays and the bones are most likely from a skunk, or raccoon- I found both the feathers and the bones so no animals were hunted down for the making of this awesome wizard staff!

At long last came the decision to give it a few coats of polyurethane for some weather-proofing and that nice, professional sheen.

It can be used during some kind of ceremony, for cosplay, or just for decoration. It could be used as a hiking stick, but it’s a bit heavy for that and the crystals and shells are fragile and likely to break while traipsing around the woods.

SOLD

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

Astrolabe Arts

October 27, 2015March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: ArtworkTags: Artwork, ceremonial wizard staff, cosplay, crystals, handmade, hiking stick, J.R. Goslant, seashells, staff, wizard staff Leave a comment

Art Deco Chrysler Building

An eye-catching, stylized art-deco rendering of New York City’s Chrysler Building done with watercolors on an 12″x18″ paper.

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts

October 2, 2015March 24, 2017 by jrgoslant Categories: ArtworkTags: art deco, Artwork, chrysler building, J.R. Goslant, new york city, nyc, painting, watercolor Leave a comment

Olde New York Sunset

A watercolor painting of the silhouetted skyline of New York City with a blazing and radiant sunset as seen from the water during the early 20th century. The painting was done on 12″x18″ paper.

Artist: J.R. Goslant

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AstrolabeArts