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The photograph in this puzzle was shot by internationally recognized photographer, Michael Seewald

Michael writes: "This spot is nestled in between the many state and national parks which blanket the area. Blessed to have a job where I am often "working" in the middle of God's country, be it in the U.S. or elsewhere, I try not to take these scenes, or my job, for granted. The serene atmosphere/change of pace is needed for one's soul. In my case I'm so busy promoting, printing and selling my art that when I do go out on a trip to create, I get excessively happy, like Patch Adams at graduation time. The only complaint I receive from my collectors is this: They say after hanging a few of my pieces they find it hard to get their visitors to sit down and talk to them. One said, "they keep looking at the art asking all kinds of questions. Are these paintings Airbrush? Multiple exposures?" No, they are all straight photos. Some display my new 4 by 5 foot ones, the size BEFORE framing!" [John's note: 4 by 5 feet! Now that would be some puzzle!]

For other Michael Seewald prints available as puzzles see: Michael Seewald - Prints

I cut this puzzle in an experimental cutting style I call "Network". This puzzle is an evolution of the Open Curl cutting style. The Open Curl style itself evolved from the closed curls of the Swirl Curl style. The Open Curls lengthened into spans and connectors formed at the ends. Most of the spans feature ball and socket connectors. Also some span branching has occurred - so a piece may "take" one connector and spawn two or more. Some pieces are "selfish", they take a connector and spawn none. Pieces which materialize parallel to spans, rarely spawn connectors, but it has happened - these pieces tend to be smaller.

This style presented two challenges - 1) how to terminate around the edges of the puzzle, 2) how to subdivide the islands formed within the lattice in a "nice" way. As of this writing (July 28, 2000) I'm still undecided as to whether or not I'll pursue this style. Update - as of September 9, 2000 I decided not to persue this style, in favor of Concept Pieces.

Significant milestones

• First experimental puzzle in the Network cutting style.

As it happened (from my Journal archives).

July 28, 2000

Late Morning - I finished assembling my latest puzzle, #31 which features a new cutting style I call "Network". The interlocking for this puzzle is much better than I initially thought - acceptable - the internal Network lattice works well. The puzzle is an interesting combination of interlock and semi-push-fit, within the islands of the Network lattice. The Network lattice provides support like a steel frame of a building. Maybe my September eBay puzzle will be cut this way. Actually I still haven't decided if I'm going to pursue this style.

Morning - I've started to assemble #31 - Actually it is a pretty cool puzzle, and pretty tough - I will do more development of the Network cutting style in the future.

July 27, 2000

Late evening - finished cutting #31. My streak came to an end - after about 9 or 10 very good to great to fabulous puzzles in a row, I've created a puzzle I'm rather unhappy with. It was an experimental "Network" cutting style puzzle. Network spans (rods, Y's, crosses) with connectors at the ends. Some pieces came out way too small, some spans with connector ball ends are suggestive of certain body parts.... sigh... but that problem can be worked around going forward.... more seriously, there were numerous technical problems with the style too... really messy edge non-interlocking, sometimes going deep into the puzzle , this was a real challenge to work.... With the Swirl styles there is a lot of internal interlocking, with Network, the spans can form longer internal non-interlocking sections and it is a challenge to keep track of this, I messed up several times. Also within the Network lattice, islands of uncut puzzle board were created, and the shapes of these islands did not lend to being subdivided in a way that was harmonious with the lattice. I simply tried force my creativity... After I get #31 sanded and cleaned up, I'll post a picture sometime tomorrow or Saturday - eventually #31 may end up "missing" like some of my earlier puzzles. The positive result will be some kind of schematic chart, formally "defining" the Network cutting style..... Meanwhile I now have a problem that both puzzles scheduled for the August first date I mentioned in the Puzzle Show Room are no-shows.... My puzzle creation rate is still running about three puzzles a month - my puzzles are rare pups! Buy one today!

Early afternoon - I expect to finish Puzzle #31 later today. I'm cutting this in a style I'm initially calling "Networking". The puzzle is experimental and will not be placed for sale. I will post a picture later and will write up the cutting style up when I reorganize my Cutting Styles section, along with other parts of this website.

July 26, 2000

I decide to skip "Open Curl" I wanted to do something "new now". I have recently developed a style I'm initially calling "Networking". In this style, there is a core network of spans with mostly ball and socket ends, although I do use curls too. The Network provides overall interlocking - extending to the edges. There are islands of non-interlocking pieces (some quite small) where lattice "holes" form. I spent six hours on #31 today and am only half done - the going is very slow, this style takes more time than Swirl Curl or Open Curl, my mainstay styles. How the puzzle comes out, and how easy/hard it is to put together - will then determine whether or not I put it on market.