Recently we have had some classes in paper engineering. I have really enjoyed these and have produced some fantastic yet simple pieces. I love these because of the bright colours and geometrical patterns.
This folded paper work is great to photograph – showing how the shadows show the 3D form. This is particularly effective because of how this means they appear to create different patterns when seen from different angles.
Some of these techniques are very simple yet very effective.
Fluxing Metal
I am currently enjoying my Easter holiday. Tomorrow I will be off to Middlesbrough and then Scotland on Thursday therefore I will probably not be posting much for the next 2 weeks.
However, here are the last metal samples I made on the first part of the 50 Words 50 Images project, for which I got another 1st! Woohoo!
To create these pieces I soldered together geometrical shapes of copper and brass. To create the surfaces I painted the metal with flux and then heated them with a torch – this caused the beautiful colours and unpredictable patterns.
I am hoping that for the next part of the 50 Words 50 Images project I will be able to develop these designs and techniques into more 3D piece which could perhaps be worn as jewellery. So far these could make rather nice brooches!
Hot Metal
Metal is definitely one of my favourite materials to play with!
Isn’t it amazing what you can do with it if you just apply enough heat and pressure.
These next three images are of two sample which I created simply by heating brass with a torch until the metal began to reticulate.
I have technically just finished this project however it actually leads straight on to the next one. In this last project I had to identify elements of my work, by producing samples, which I then intend to carry forth into my next project. Some of the elements I wish to continue working with can be seen in these next samples:
Triangles, layers and contrasting surfaces.
Folds, textures and warm colours:
Some other ideas I have been working with which i would like to develop in this next project are windows and combining materials – particularly metal and thread.
Textures and Triangles
I’ve recently been responding to my 50 words and 50 images mostly in 2D which is different for me but I’m really enjoying it. Soon I will be translating these into ideas and samples in 3D.
I started these investigations by drawing elements of some of the images I chose.
I then started working with the word Windows.
I cut shapes out of paper to use as windows to reveal my drawings behind them.
I did more of these using photocopies of other experiments I have done on this project. I am particularly keen on working with textures and triangles.
These last samples I have displayed on my own handmade paper which I made in a workshop near the beginning of this project.
50 Words, 50 Images
Wow! I’ve been busy!
I’ve had a presentation to do, an essay to write and a new project to start.
The new project is 50 words, 50 images. Basically it started by me choosing 50 or more images and words to inspire my work. The images can be anything: my own photos, found images or images of artists’ work.
I now have to respond to those words and images. Here are a few of my samples, using metal and stitch, which I did at the beginning of this project:
Here are 12 of my words which relate to these samples:
Vessel, Light, Shadow, Linear, Texture, Combine, Reflect, Warm, Geometric, Growth, Contrast, Windows.
Porcelain Spoons
During the Spoons project we had a workshop in porcelain. By this time I had already started working on my final spoons but I used this as an opportunity to try out some ideas I had earlier in the project. I did try a few geometrical ideas but I felt that these more organic spoons were the most successful in porcelain.
Feeling Pretty Pleased!
Thought I’d post these photos of my salt spoons displayed together as I think they look great and I’m really pleased with them.
These photos also show the great finish on the spoons. I used antiquing fluid to give them a less harsh colour and surface. It also really emphasizes the extra lines I created.
I have another reason to be pleased. Yesterday I got my results and feedback for ExM (Exploration of Materials) and the Spoons project…….
I got a 1st!!!
This is the display of my work for this project:
I have also had a 1st in the two other modules I have completed so far! It will be fantastic if I can keep this up!
A Pinch of Salt
Someone asked if my geometrical spoons actually had to have the bowl part of a spoon on the end… Could it be a part of the handle instead?
This prompted me to make these last three spoons as part of my final collection. They are the same design as the others except with just a small dip at the narrow end of the handle as the bowl making them the perfect spoon for just a “pinch of salt”.
Brass Angles
This past week I have been working on developing my geometric spoons in small metals. I have four more in brass which you can see below.
These two have not yet been bent but I have looked at working with the surface of the metal. I have gone over the surface with sandpaper to create this scratchy appearance which I rather like. 
With this next one I have practiced making the folds sharp and angular. I have experimented with ways to change the shape of the handle with the placement of the folds.
These spoons are also very interesting and fun to photograph as the shapes and angles create beautiful shadows which really emphasise the geometric 3D forms.
This last spoon has been the most successful. I have added extra lines where there are not any folds. This really adds an extra dimension to the design.
As my deadline is this Thursday I have decided to abandon my idea of wooden and plastic spoons so that I can focus on developing and finishing these designs in brass. I am really pleased with them!
Fern Spoons
You may recognise this drawing as it is a development of my earlier fern drawings. When I was doing my first experiments in paper and in the different workshops one of my lecturers noticed my interest in natural forms and geometrical shapes and pointed out how even my organic ink drawings could be transformed into geometric shapes.
I therefore decided to develop my ink drawing of dead fern into a geometrical form.
Shortly after being given our Spoon project we had a textiles print workshop. We were asked to bring a drawing with us to photocopy so I decided to use this.
I painted ink onto the photocopies and then placed them face down on fabric in a heat press. The ink from the photocopies repels the ink you paint on it so when it is transferred the image is in negative.
I really enjoyed working in this way and had fun layering and playing with colour. I thought autumnal would be appropriate and look beautiful.
As we had just been given the Spoons project I developed this work into spoon prints.
I am really pleased with these, especially as I am not usually as enthusiastic about working in 2D but these were fun to do and really successful.