The beginning of this semester I created several wax figures for my independent metalsmithing study. The project deals with facing fears, it has evolved in several areas since its inception. Below you can see the wax models all sprued up for casting. This was actually the second round of casting, the first set failed. I was able to salvage some parts from the first casting, you will see them a little later.
Just below you can see the casted parts of the wax models. I used the lost wax method for making the mold, then I used both centrifugal and vacuum casting methods. The metals I chose were sterling silver and bronze. I did not want to have all of the pieces out of silver due to the nature of the project.
After a bit of clean up and soldering you can see that the parts are becoming whole objects. This is actually parts from the first casting, originally there was to be 11 legs but only 9 of those were usable after casting. There is yellow ochre on the leg joints in preparation for soldering the last two legs on.
Over the course of my time in metals, I have wanted to play with the idea of beauty. In this study I am exploring how beauty or lack there of may affect how fear is attached to an object or being. In this case, spiders are elegant but also enigmatically creepy. I have boiled down that it is the legs that really unsettle me. So with this project I decided to accentuate that, giving the objects more legs, all legs and no body or no legs and just a body. I have also explored the idea of how nature works and demonstrated how it does not.
Below are two of the many objects that I am making, 'elephant' and 'rack'. These two are perhaps the smallest of all the objects that I am making. Both will be set with gem cut stones. Rack will be set with an emerald and Elephant will hold a smoky quartz. The stones are both teardrop cut, emeralds represent beginnings for me and the smoky quartz are lens to tone down all that is viewed through it.
Below are two of the many objects that I am making, 'elephant' and 'rack'. These two are perhaps the smallest of all the objects that I am making. Both will be set with gem cut stones. Rack will be set with an emerald and Elephant will hold a smoky quartz. The stones are both teardrop cut, emeralds represent beginnings for me and the smoky quartz are lens to tone down all that is viewed through it.
Today I felt a little accomplished. I have finished one of the many objects that I have planned for this project. Below you can see the progression of finishes that I put on this piece. Going from no patina to a full liver of sulfur patina and brushed details. The Jade is hammer set in cast sterling silver. The holes in the front of the body represent the absence of legs.
I hope to be able to post more completion photos in the next week. Till then keep arting!
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