Things, They Are A Changin'

Having been an only child in our work shop, it has been quite the shock having to share the space with Husband recently.  He has found his voice in the art world with acrylic pouring.  The Saturday after my lengthy trip to Arrowmont I decided to skip my KBAG meeting, which I rarely do.   First, I was tired and second,  Mrs. Scharon was teaching the fundamentals of acrylic pouring and my body can no longer tolerate being around paint fumes of any kind.  Sometimes this is a blessing...Sorry, Dear, I can't help paint the living room...but mostly it keeps me very vigilant when I am creating with anything that generates an off gas: torching, painting, gluing, etc..  I have had to change course many times to complete a project due to this, but I digress.  In passing I let Husband know my plans, or lack of, and he said that he was interested in going.  Wow, ok.  I introduced pouring to him via YouTube a few weeks prior but had no idea that it piqued his interest.  So off we went and he has been going strong ever since.  He has even taken a one on one class with Mrs. Scharon so he could learn more.  He now has a nice stash of paints, pouring medium and canvases.  He is the first to look at the art store fliers in the Sunday paper.  He is making some beautiful and interesting work and I am always excited for the end result.  Since I cannot be in the shop while he is working I get to be surprised by what colors were chosen and how they mingled together.

Lately I have been working with copper and patina.  The cutting and manipulation of the metal is very satisfying but carefully opening up the ammonia container and being surprised with the outcome is where the joy comes in.  Much like with Husband's pours, I never know what that will be...very blue, some blue with copper accents or just dark and bland.  The blues are organic and beautiful, the dark and bland not so much, but they can be cleaned and reintroduced to the ammonia with hopefully a better result.

Next I would like to learn how to enamel on copper.  Arrowmont offers classes on this and I would love to participate but having had a reaction to a room full of people using torches, I know it is not possible.  Thank goodness for YouTube because I can see the process and go at my own pace.  Now I just have to pull the trigger and buy supplies for another project.  Maybe if I call it an addition to this metalworking project I can justify it.  

I must be off to put on my orange and gather my crochet so I can be ready root for my hometown college team.  Last week's loss was hard to watch but we have high hopes for this game.  Happy Saturday!

Hilari

A Circut Tent and A Car Rotor

Arrowmont 2019 class blog 2:

With an idea of the class direction expected, I made a prototype of a circus tent out of a box and wire using a door peep hole to peek through.  I knew with this in hand I would be better able to explain my vison.  I tolled the week prior, having the piece ready and in working order with a couple of days to spare.  With my new 3 tiered, wheeled tool bag ( thanks Husband!!!) loaded to the brim and packed in the car, off we went, sadly leaving my project idea behind.  It is very difficult to explain to someone not introduced to my work what my intentions are:  I am going to make a circus tent, which when a crank is turned a juggler and 2 acrobats will move independently of each other inside said tent.  All of this is seen through the lens of a door peep hole attached to the wire ceiling.  Yep, I got the usual blank stare as this was being processed.  I told the teacher that I had made one and it would work. He did not look so sure.

I carved the tent, added the wire and proceeded to rust the piece. While this was going on I tinted some muslin a light red and blue for the tent top. I worked this fabric to death trying to get the shape to convey what I wanted.  It fought me at every turn.  Come to find out it was not the fabric, it was the wrong choice of color.  Digging in my stash I found this orange and gold stripe and all fell into place.  I did have to wear down the brightness and nap by using sandpaper, adding its own kind of rusty feel.

An after the fact addition was a set of tiny lights that circle the perimeter base inside the tent.  It gives off a warm glow and really sets off the performers as they dazzle the crowd.  The star is the lady in the ring who comes dangerously close to the razor blade as she swings about many gasps are heard during her death defying feat.

Out teacher had been asking around if there was any place to find free junk in the area.  He was directed to an abandoned shed close by and off he and some of the classmates went to gather.  One of the cool pieces shared was a 4 inch prism.  I quickly discarded the door peep hole idea and put the prism in its place.  Wow, it could not be more perfect., giving the viewer a dreamy look into the tent.

Mr. Gorman feels that the base of the piece is very important to the overall feel and that we should take this into consideration while constructing the parts.  I was very lucky to be going home between the 2 week class because I was able to fish around in my stash.  I unearthed a car rotor that was the perfect size and could hide the battery pack for the lights.  With the addition of a lazy Susan mechanism (Husband's idea) it all came together.  I added a balloon holding, unicycle rider to the back so there would be a point of interest while the piece was being turned.

All in all it came out very close to the original idea but with many improvements. I have another piece for another post.  Two weeks is a wonderful amount of time to create.

A recent weekend was spent in the warm comfort of family.  Our annual reunion lost some of its steam when our matriarch, Aunt Margaret, passed away a few years ago.  She was the driving force behind our gatherings.  This year we shared laughs and love at her homestead, which has been wonderfully restored by her son and his wife.  It was so special to be back sharing old memories and making new ones with the new generations coming along.  Cousin has next year and Husband and I are on the list to host the year after.  Sounds like we are back on track.

Wishing all a happy Sunday!
Hilari