Clasp As Focal Point Finished Piece

Here it is:

I really enjoyed making the chain and I love how it looks, the only thing is holding the small coils and cutting them with the jewelers saw really hurt my fingers after a while. Now they're all calloused. I want to continue to explore coloring metal with Prisma colors, i think I might incorporate it somewhere on my next project as well. The clasp isn't shown in the picture but its a sister clasp. Its a small one so its hidden. I really like the look, feel and ease of that kind of clasp. Its a bit more complex but still relatively easy to make and super versatile.

Alas for Problems

sooo like in every project, you always run into some issues. I planned on making the "idiots delight" chain with 18 guage wire. Well what I didn't know is that finding a 5/32 dowel is close to impossible. I checked several hardware and craft stores. Once I couldn't find it in the store, I decided to modify a bigger dowel to the right size but sanding it down was waaaay too difficult to keep the width consistent. I ended up deciding to order new wire in a different guage that I already had the correct dowel size for. I couldn't find the color I wanted in 16 guage so I went for 20. Who knew I had to buy the dowel, then the wire. I'm glad I could make it work and didn't have to settle for a less tight chain or change what type of chain i was making.

Project one sketches

Here are my final sketches for project one: 

The bottom sketch is the one I have chose to go with. It is based on the tail and body of a parrot. I am going to use color pencil on the bottom piece to incorporate the coloring of the parrot.

Etruscan Chain- double loop in loop

I absolutely loved making this chain. I found fusing really fun and I want to try making other kinds of chains. My first project doesn't call for an etruscan chain so I'm waiting for a use to arise for it. I am going to make a byzantine chain also called idiots delight chain for my project. It is going to use silver and blue colored wire. After completing a six inch double loop in loop Etruscan Chain I made a single loop in loop with the extra links. I still have to draw the single loop in loop through the draw plate. I'm hoping that will help it look more uniform. If it doesn't then I definitely prefer the double loop in loop. I tried to take some pictures but my camera cant see the detail in the chain.

Spring 2012 Theme

I've decided to use birds as my theme for this semester. I plan on focusing on one specific bird for each piece. I am thinking that I want to use an eagle for the second project and focus on their impeccably good vision by setting a magnifying glass. I'm not sure whether I want to go off from the idea of binoculars or a monocle. I keep think of designs for a monocle but I'm not sure how that relates to an eagle. I am still toying with what bird to use for the first project. The shape of the body and the delicate detail in their wings is really interesting to me. Here are a couple pictures i've been looking at. 

Also the repetition of their flight patterns might be a good design element to etch or play with when designing.

Tis the end

I really enjoyed the various techniques we learned this semester. especially focusing on:

1. chasing and repousee
2. Etching
3. Photo etching
4. Marriage of metals
5. Making ingots
6. Hydraulic die forming

I also learned some chain making and finishing techniques from some of my peers such as an etruscan chain and different patinas. Also observed that in order to copper plate a piece, you put it in a separate container of pickle with steel wool. I just learned how to make the chain three days before critique. Definitely on my list for things to try next semester. I'm already trying to figure out a theme. 

I feel like I have a ton more tools to design with so I am confident that my designs will become more sophisticated.

I am happy with the work that I produced this semester. This was my first Junior studio. I learned a completely new technique with the first project of chasing and repousee. The second project (production) taught me what its like to make multiples and the additionally planning that is necessary when producing in quantities. I learned that I would have a much easier time if I simplified my design cutting wise. It took me a very long time to cut out each piece. I also practiced tube setting. I have not used this process in a piece yet. I really enjoy tube setting stones and I like how it looks. The third piece (pattern and texture) I practiced riveting. The only other time I did this technique was on the hinge on the box I made in applied jewelry techniques class. I learned that chains don't have to be made of wire links, they can be more elaborate fun shapes cut out of metal. I also didn't know it could be useful to ball up the end of a piece of metal by heating and melting it.  Most importantly from this project I learned how to etch. I will definitely use this technique in the future. I am excited to try photo etching. Over break I want to play around in photoshop to get some nice just black and white texture possibilities. Now that I know so much more about metal, I am ready to hit the ground running. 

Finished Texture/Pattern Piece

Ta da!