This are just a few of the many spindles I painted for this project. Each one is a little over an inch high and about 1/2" wide. There are supposed to look like pink quartz, but I couldn't get that depth look in the experiments. So I settled with a pink marble look.
Each spindle was bought in a craft store; you didn't think I carved each one did you? Well I might have if I had a small enough lathe and had nothing better to do with my time. I did, however, mount each one on the lathe and paint them. I used Deka paints, they're water soluble, very easy to use, very easy to clean up. I wanted a slight pink look. Mixing the paint didn't work, too pink. I applied white paint with a brush while the spindle, spun. I then applied a little bit of red to give it a pink hue.
The lines were applied with a brush, feather, and any other small marbleizing tools I had lying around. The lathe was off while I did this. Each line was shakily placed while I turned the disk on the lathe.
Later on, I'll cut off pegs on each one. It will be the last step. They will be glued in place with epoxy. Then a white rail will go on top all of them.
Total Time: 3 Hours 30 minutes
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Started on 11-28-98