The human body isn’t meant to sit in front of a computer for eight hours a day. At our studio, we are fortunate in that depending on the project, our work can actually take us away from the computer, whether it is to begin carving a bas-relief portrait or assemble a pattern for a bronze plaque.  These projects force us to move around the studio, and in the warmer months, sometimes even allow us to move our work outside on a nice day.

However, the majority of the week takes place at our desks, and sitting for extended periods of time is not beneficial to our overall health.  Our third resolution for 2016 is to invest our time in better habits at work, which as a result, will make our day happier, healthier and more focused, so that we can work better with you.  Our team sat down (and then stood up!) to discuss ways we can introduce healthier habits into our workplace culture. 

TAKING FREQUENT BREAKS

Studies show that taking regular breaks actually increases productivity by 6-11% throughout the day.  In fact, a 15 second break taken a few times an hour is said to reduce fatigue by 50%. We’ve downloaded the free Time Out app, which gently reminds us to take a break on a regular basis.

STAY ACTIVE

Here in New York City, many employees eat lunch at their desks or simply do not take a break to eat at all.  This habit actually reduces productivity because it does not give our brains the time to rest between tasks.  We’ve made a pact to step away for an extended break at least two times a day, in addition to taking lunch outside the office. 

Taking a walk around the block is particularly enjoyable in our neighborhood.  We can volunteer for the nearby dog shelter and walk a dog for twenty minutes to temporarily unwind during a stressful day.  Others of us have installed an app on our phones called Sworkit which provides five-minute work out routines, perfect for a break between emails or after a big project is completed.

DRINK WATER

Most of us already know that the average person should be drinking 8-10 glasses of water a day, equaling about two liters.  At work, we’ve found it is easy to stay put at your desk, answer emails and lose track of time.  Especially if you aren’t in the habit of consistently drinking water, the day can go by and after the morning coffee, you haven’t drank anything at all.  We’ve decided to keep a large water bottle at our desk, which can be carried easily with us to lunch or to plaque design meetings, so we all stay on track and stay hydrated.  Here’s to a healthy and active 2016! 

2015 has flown by!  It has been a great year for us, and we are excited to see what 2016 has to offer. Masterwork Plaques will be closed for the weeks of Christmas and New Years, before our studio reopens on January 4th, 2016.  We wish a happy, wholesome holiday to all our past and prospective clients and their loved ones.  We look forward to creating more quality plaques and medallions in 2016!

If you would like to inquire about plaque pricing over the holiday, you can Request a Quote, and we will respond to your inquiry when we return to the office.

Thanksgiving is a time of gratitude.

Here at Masterwork Plaques, we have a lot to be thankful for. This past year has been a time of exciting new growth at our studio. In the past twelve months, not only have we doubled the number of plaque and medallion customers we served in 2014, but we have also redeveloped our website and renovated our studio! 

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, we have a few people and places to thank:

OUR CUSTOMERS

Running a small business isn’t easy.  Knowing that we have a client base that appreciates our plaque products makes it all worth it.  We know that large corporations can pump out their products a little faster and maybe a little cheaper, but it means a lot knowing that our clients appreciate the Masterwork experience, for each custom plaque is made in America and designed with care. 

LOCAL BUSINESSES

New York City can be an overwhelming place to live and work. Luckily for us, Williamsburg, Brooklyn knows how to take care of its inhabitants.  These local spots have provided us with the many items we needed during our studio renovation, delicious food, and a tranquil space to unwind after a busy day at work.

Aurora Hardware – Thank you for your endless supply of nails and spackle, and for not looking at us strangely even when we’ve come back twice in the same day.

Sweethaus Coffee Shop – Thank you for your delicious coffee and your addicting cookies and cupcakes.

BagelSmith – Your bagels are a morning staple, and your generous cream cheese-to-bagel ratio does not go unnoticed!

OUR TEAM MEMBERS

During this action-packed year, our dedicated team of full-time staff and hired contractors have worked hard to make our projects shine.  Our designers, customer service agents, patina artists, and bas-relief sculptors have each helped the Masterwork Plaque business come to life.

In addition to custom bronze plaques, Masterwork Plaques can create a variety of armed service medallions, military insignias, service crests, badges and veteran memorials from existing military artwork and logos.  These metal military seals can be created from any of the materials we offer, from cast bronze and cast aluminum, to etched bronze, aluminum, stainless steel, brass and zinc.  Each metal offers its own function and unique qualities.  Bronze and brass typically are considered more traditional looking metals whereas stainless steel, aluminum and zinc give the armed service plaque a contemporary feel.  

MILITARY SEALS & CRESTS

BAS-RELIEF MILITARY SEALS

Military seals are most traditionally created using a cast bronze, bas-relief technique.  This armed service seal style includes prismatic, hand-carved emblems and surrounding raised text with customized border. We have a variety of existing bas-relief patterns for military seals in stock at our studio. If another version of the military crest is requested, our studio clay-artists can hand-carve a new pattern to recreate the specific armed service seal to our client’s specific needs.

Our in-stock patterns include:

• U.S. Army plaques
• Department of the Navy plaques
• Department of the Air Force plaques
• U.S. Marine Corps plaques
• U.S. Coast Guard plaques
• Etched or Cast Military Plaques
• Bas-Relief and Flat Relief military plaques

ETCHED MILITARY SEALS

As a cost-effective alternative to cast bronze bas-relief medallions, we also offer “etched” military seals.  Etched plaques and medallions are lighter in weight and offer a more contemporary look.  Rather than including dimensional elements, these emblems are created graphically, with simple raised and recessed areas.  Graphic military seals give each plaque an illustrated and sleek design. 

FULL-COLOR MILITARY SEALS

Another alternative we offer is the recreation of full color logos and seals on metal military plaques. This process is best used for interior applications.  Using your high-quality photograph, we can create a full-color, printed metal replication of the logo or military crest of your choice.  This process is not created by digitally printing onto laminate or plastic; instead, it seals various dyes into anodized aluminum for a long-lasting, quality product.

VETERAN MEMORIALS / MILITARY BASE PLAQUES

Masterwork Plaques specializes in the creation of Veteran memorials and custom military base plaques.  Tributes to veterans can consist of cast bronze nameplates, commemorative plaques, illustrated bas-relief carvings, photo-portraits, etc.  Veteran recognition plaques can be installed on a wall, at a memorial site, inset into custom plinths or be given as gifts to deserving service members.  Masterwork Plaques provides design assistance and the necessary hardware for all these installations.

 Our studio has experience creating large-scale medallions for the entrances of various military bases and training facilities, as an alternative to plastic or glass signage.  Our custom circular medallions can be inset into the paving, on a wall, or the entrance lobby of your building to include a military base logo, armed forces seal, or other artwork.  Masterwork Plaques past clients include: The West Point Military Academy, The F.B.I., NASA Washington DC, US Department of State, The Los Angeles Police Department, The Los Angeles Fire Department, The Dallas Police Department, The City of New York and more.

For more information on military and veteran plaques, contact us at masterworkplaques@gmail.com.

Masterwork Plaques can provide a large range of options when translating imagery, graphics and portraits into cast bronze plaques.  One of the most unique and artistic methods we use is what is called a “bas-relief” technique.  This hand carving technique is a time-intensive, one-of-a-kind process, created with help from our studio’s experienced clay artists. “Bas-relief” is a traditional method of low relief sculpture, and is often found on historic bronze plaques. While it is most often associated with portraits, it can be used for logos, architectural renderings and depictions of plants, animals and people. Bas-relief imagery adds an authenticity and character to your cast bronze plaque project that can't be matched.

The bas-relief carving process starts with an image.  When creating portrait plaques, we ask our customers to provide an image of the person they are looking to memorialize in bronze.  We then share this image with our clay artists and after sitting with the portrait; they attempt to capture the person’s features, smile and unique qualities in clay.  Our studio works closely with both our clients and sculptors to ensure that the carving has a true likeness to the subject. 

Once the clay carving is complete, our designers mold the carving using a two-part rubber mold, and finally cast it again in plastic.  This gives us a more sturdy relief pattern that is safe for casting in bronze.  After the portrait plaque is cast in bronze, we then finish our bronze plaques with a true chemical patina, so that the bronze plaque will last for years, without the risk of peeling or chipping.

 Important notes for Bas-Relief Portrait Plaques

• The subjects face must be at least 6” high from chin to crown.
• The provided image must be of high quality with minimal pixilation, blurriness, and shadowing.
• Two rounds of revisions are included, to ensure a true likeness to the subject.
• Manufacturing time is approximately 8-10 weeks after the order is placed. 

Bas-relief carvings are a great way to differentiate your plaque from the mass-produced signage and template based memorial plaques that too often dominate in the plaque-making industry.  Our studio has created portrait plaques, historical markers, and even architectural renderings using bronze bas relief.  Masterwork Plaques is committed to revolutionizing the plaque making business, from a field with mass-produced signage and standard template based plaques, into an industry where each plaque is created from unique designs and materials of the finest quality.