Small Artwork Projects
HickoryDickoryRock
The HickoryDickoryRock series utilizes materials sourced from the ranch. These materials and a little imagination pair to form a limited series of unique pieces. The eye-catching petrified wood is elevated by the logo branded and shotgun shelled hickory base.
A background of the materials:
Petrified wood forms when plant material is quickly buried by fine grained sediments preventing its decay by oxygen and organisms. Then, over millions of years, groundwater rich in dissolved solids flowing through the sediment replaces the original plant material with minerals, usually silica in a process known as silicification. Some pieces even form small sparkly crystal-like structures.
Hickory trees can be found across North America from Canada to Mexico. They grow best in moist, rich soil often found at the bottom of hilly slopes at the edge of forests. The wood of the Hickory tree is hard and durable, and was used historically for mine shaft supports, wagon-wheel spokes, and all manner of tool handles. It makes an excellent wood for bow and arrows. And of course, its wood is prized for use in smoking meat.
Twelve-gauge shotgun shells, because it’s Texas and we love guns. So, why not put a brass shell stamp on it.
Wood branding, unfortunately there is no cattle on the ranch, regardless something needs to be branded. It’s the artists way of permanently touching the piece providing brand authenticity.
Signage & Large Artwork Projects
Ranch Signage
The idea for ranch signage and branding was sparked by the lonely existence of the horse sculpture standing against the blank white well house. This was seen as an opportunity to name the ranch and provide the horse with a backdrop and association to the ranch it deserves. With a passion to up-cycle, things get repurposed at the ranch. The base of the sign is an old steel catch pan from an HVAC system, it was ideal for a sign base. The pan was made with thick gauge steel and had a welded edge to stand off the raised metal well house panels. The ranch logo was sketched and friends at MS Custom Welding cut the design into the old pan. A splash of paint to match the horse plus some LED back-lighting provided the finishing touches. As one thing tends to lead to another, the leftover cutout pieces from the first sign provided an idea for a second. Using some old cedar planks and the cutouts another sign was created. The second sign is displayed on the large white wall inside the horse barn. A closeup picture of the barn sign also serves as the 222 Ranch website logo.
Ranch Totem Pole
The ranch totem pole was created to showcase all the activities on the ranch. The idea for this piece was inspired by the simple brown and white trail signs seen at state and national parks. Putting a cowboy and Indian twist on the trail sign concept the totem pole project was born. The project started with a large hickory log sourced from the property. It was then flat faced with a chainsaw for a surface to display the activity cutouts. The top cap on the log came from old barn sheet metal that was pounded into a perfect fit. The metal support system that elevates the log is fabricated from left over pipe fencing. Finally, the whole seven-foot-tall piece was lacquered to protect it all from the elements and cemented into the ground. The totem pole greets you upon arrival down the long winding driveway.
Cedar-Man
Then there is Cedar-man... the protector of the ranch woods and trails. Cedar-man started life as a unique cedar tree that was chopped down. Once on the ground and trimmed it resembled a human figure standing with their arms raised. Yet, something was missing, Cedar-man needed personalization. Cutting a larger section from the cedar trunk for a head shaped piece the face was then hand carved. A little blue paint for the eyes, frayed twine rope for the hair and Cedar-man was brought to life. Yes, a little freaky... that’s why he lives in the woods.