project one

These studies were made while I've been learning to turn wood, every Thursday at the EV Wood Shop with technician Liz Xu. We've talked about finishing, making detailed plans in order to repeat designs, and how to connect these spindle pieces - all concepts that I hope to explore as I continue to turn. Maybe, in future, I'll make a dowel for paper making class, legs for a table, a fake instrument, a cane that comes apart.

Here, I tried to replicate the spindles of one of my dining room chairs as best I could. Artist Gordon Hall says the best way to learn to construct things is to find an object whose structure interests you and try to replicate it.

These are examples of beads, slightly more difficult than coves. This is cherry wood.

These are examples of coves. This is birch wood. These studies remind me of recorders.

mold-making study - silicone mold and forton cast

This study is taking the longest to complete as I had to make multiple appointments with Monique after the initial mold-making workshop to finish this mold and cast (4 sessions in total so far). I definitely have learned a lot from her so far, though I do find this to be the most stressful process of all that I've tried so far.

I apparently chose a bit of a complex object that required a 2-part mold, so I had to essentially go through the mold-making process twice. During the sessions, I've also spent a lot of time working on other people's molds instead of my own.

The object is a metal egg separator (used for baking) in the shape of a bird.

Hopefully it's alright that I just have process photos. The final finished 2-part mold is currently drying on the shelf in the VA and I'll add photos of the finished project as soon as I have them.

Another dream done in aluminum. A table surrounded by a very shallow lake. In the dream, I sat at the table with my partner, his aunt, and her partner. One of my best friends and her family were gliding around the shallow lake, harvesting something, apologizing for interrupting our meal. I drew the waves with a very fine tool - Monique suggested I emboss them more and I think it turned out well!

This part of the workshop was extremely fast-moving (verging on frantic). Knowing I didn't have much time, the first images to 'draw' that came to mind were recent dreams. This is a dream done in copper where I found a gooey luminescent shimmering white slug under my thumbnail.

For this study, I went to the MIG Welding and Sandblasting workshop, with Monique and Kevin. I loved welding and am going back next week to learn more.

We also experimented with métale repoussé and were encouraged to think about texture. I thought about the Anni Albers (Bauhaus weaver) texture studies I did last year and I made a weaving draft with aluminum.