Urban Landscape Brooch #21 Talya Baharal Today was a learning day in the studio. I pulled out my hammers, pliers, grinders, and flamers.
They were used for making a big noise and altered surfaces to copper, old tin cans and steel.
Metal work is far more aggressive and satisfying than textile work on more energetic days. The use of of heat, grinding and chemical altering is accomplished more simply than when working with textiles. Good thing the end results can be used for embellishment and attachment.
I have been working on a series of textile and metal combined jewels for awhile and playing with the same pupae or pod inspirations. Today the materials used included an old Indian necklace that has been in my bead box for years, a coke can turned inside out, copper foiling leftovers, an old steel leftover cutting from Tim's last workshop and some copper wire. They were torched and pounded and pierced.
The grinding wheel is almost as satisfying as the heat gun. It throws sparks and requires concentration. Burnt fingers result from forgetting that friction creates heat.
The same patination chemicals are used on fabric and metal. The surprise is that some simple chemicals like lemon juice and vinegar and even leftover salts and soda pop also create patination. Rumour has it that cat food leaves a nice patination if dropped on copper or silver and then heated. I'll see if any is left in the cupboard since kitty's demise last spring.
Now to look for a small forge and a small kiln for the back yard.
The family is now hanging from the rafters doing roofing and I am rarely home. Poor Brandon, my sixteen year old cousin, is sleeping in the bed next to the computer and is so tired he hasn't budged the entire time I have spent writing. It is barely 9:00 pm
Tomorrow Young comes to the studio for some "comfort" and Lou Lou arrives from Quebec.
Young is now working full time at an uninspiring job and needs support to keep working creatively and Lou Lou just wants to party. Both are good for me!
They were used for making a big noise and altered surfaces to copper, old tin cans and steel.
Metal work is far more aggressive and satisfying than textile work on more energetic days. The use of of heat, grinding and chemical altering is accomplished more simply than when working with textiles. Good thing the end results can be used for embellishment and attachment.
I have been working on a series of textile and metal combined jewels for awhile and playing with the same pupae or pod inspirations. Today the materials used included an old Indian necklace that has been in my bead box for years, a coke can turned inside out, copper foiling leftovers, an old steel leftover cutting from Tim's last workshop and some copper wire. They were torched and pounded and pierced.
The grinding wheel is almost as satisfying as the heat gun. It throws sparks and requires concentration. Burnt fingers result from forgetting that friction creates heat.
The same patination chemicals are used on fabric and metal. The surprise is that some simple chemicals like lemon juice and vinegar and even leftover salts and soda pop also create patination. Rumour has it that cat food leaves a nice patination if dropped on copper or silver and then heated. I'll see if any is left in the cupboard since kitty's demise last spring.
Now to look for a small forge and a small kiln for the back yard.
The family is now hanging from the rafters doing roofing and I am rarely home. Poor Brandon, my sixteen year old cousin, is sleeping in the bed next to the computer and is so tired he hasn't budged the entire time I have spent writing. It is barely 9:00 pm
Tomorrow Young comes to the studio for some "comfort" and Lou Lou arrives from Quebec.
Young is now working full time at an uninspiring job and needs support to keep working creatively and Lou Lou just wants to party. Both are good for me!
More about Talya Baharal in another post. Incredible inspiring jeweler.
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