“The Casket” is a project I’ve contemplated working on for many years, but for some reason it sat on the back burner waiting for the right time to make it come to fruition. The idea of turning a casket into an individualized artwork seemed a very cool concept.
Recently I have been buying old toolboxes at a local swap meet and painting them with designs and themes. Since the toolboxes were not always available, I decided to check out a metal shop about making them. As fate would have it, the owner waited on me. I explained that I was an artist and recently opened my own gallery. When I presented to him one of my toolboxes (painted with the face of Frankenstein), it really appealed to him. I asked him if he wanted to make a trade – he would make some boxes for me and I would give him one of my artworks. Suddenly I thought about the casket and I asked him if he could cast one instead of the boxes and without missing a beat he said he could create anything. We struck a deal where I would get a casket and in return I would do a family portrait for the shop owner. “The Casket” was finally off the back burner.
My mind raced with ideas in the same genré as the Frankenstein – zombies, cemeteries, skulls and myriads of other horror, occult and fantasy figures for this casket project, which I will keep for myself. As I sketch and draw my ideas for the casket, I will post them. The casket will be constructed like a vintage-style “toe-pincher.” This particular style was always constructed to fit the client’s body dimensions. My casket will be 6 feet in length by 2 feet in width by 18 inches deep.
As to the aesthetics of the casket, I plan to use a base coat rusty in color with the edition of a gritty texture denoting an aged appearance. My coffin will have the addition of copper feet for standing upright. I will also apply the same gritty texture to the feet. The hinges will also be copper with an aged patina (I found a way to oxidize copper over night). The front will have two lids instead of the traditional one lid. The upper lid will be a third of the length of the coffin and the lower lid two-thirds of the length. I’m considering creating a window in the upper lid so a viewer will be able to see my head, neck and shoulders. Each lid will have individual locks.
I’m also thinking of adding one-inch thick steel panels to the exterior of the box, three on each side and one on each end of the coffin. The panel will also be given an aged effect and then clear-coated. Lastly, I will airbrush my own design images directly on each panel.
For the inside, it will be lined with the classical satin lining, but with a twist -- all white satin layered with white spider-web lace.
I am always open to new ideas. So if you have some thoughts on this project or suggestions for a future casket that you would like to convey, please contact me.
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