Fernley woman turns handy tools into works of art

Gail Boone has been recovering saws from garage sales all over, refurbishing them and preparing them for painting since the 1980s.

"I sand the rust off, take off the handles, re-burn the oak pattern that most of them have and use a sealant on them before painting them," Boone said.

She then hand paints scenery or custom scenes per customer order on the metal before sealing the finished design with a sealant that allows the paintings to be wiped down without disturbing the painting.

"I've been painting since high school. It comes self-taught," Boone said.

Boone began painting on saws when a friend asked her if she could paint a particular image on a blade he owned. She now paints all shapes and sizes of saw blades including circular, cross-cut and hand saws. One saw blade on display in her studio is a blade from the first motorized cross-cut saw.

Boone used to do craft shows and fairs with her art. Now, the pieces are displayed, along with her other art work, in her small studio behind her home. Besides her own designs, she takes custom orders.

Equally enthused by other mediums, Boone began painting on rock slabs and producing pyrographic (woodburning) pictures. Working freehand, she adds texture to some of her artwork.

Even more detailed than the framed pyrographic pictures are the wood carvings Boone has produced.

"I do those freehand as well. I took first place in the Lyon County Fair in 1995," Boone said. "It all started when I began making miniatures for doll houses. I made miniature rocking horses as well as other pieces."

That led to larger wood carvings Boone fashions with motorized tools and a high-temperature woodburning tool she uses for fine detail.

"Now, I do carousal horses which are scale size," she said.

Boone, who worked as a checker at the Fernley Scolari's Supermarket for some time, now devotes her time to producing more and varied art work from her Fernley studio. For further information, call Whittle World of Miniatures at 575-4963.