During the Open Studios Fiona and I received a couple of small commissions. One of mine included making a plain but slightly deeper bowl than I normally beat. I had the impression from the person requesting the deeper bowl that until they see it they won't really know if it is what they want. What is the obvious solution - make several bowls in different metals and in slightly varying sizes; and give the person a choice from four bowls.
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| Barry Smith © From the fire and in the rough - a stash of bowls |
In the photo below you can see the bowls in the rough - metal cut, annealed and first beating in a hardwood form with a nylon hammer, and in the case of the brass one on the left - a second beating on the anvil with a metal ball hammer.
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| Barry Smith © Four in the rough |
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| Barry Smith © Bowls in the rough |
At this stage the texture is rough; and there is still the evidence of the annealing with the gas blow torch-burner.
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| Barry Smith © Stretched copper |
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| Barry Smith © Beaten brass |
What next? All will be beaten on the anvil; maybe annealed again; then beaten on a metal stake to smooth the bowls out; and then trim and polish. What to do with the three that are not 'wanted' - well I'm sure they will eventually find a home - probably after I have embellished them a bit. All the bowls are made from recycled metal (jardinieres and a copper hot water tank).
oh, i am quite certain the other 3 will find a home quickly... the work is beautiful and i so enjoy hearing about the process... thank you -
ReplyDeleteIt must be very therapeutic.. all that hammering. Amazing what results you get.
ReplyDeletei can so envision these outdoors...feeding butterflies?!
ReplyDeleteReally beautiful textures...how will you embellish the other three?
ReplyDeleteThese are wonderful, Barry. I love the fire patina!
ReplyDeleteB - if you gave me a choice of 4 bowls, i'll probably end up taking all 4 *sigh* difficult decision coming up for that person who commissioned ... poor guy ...
ReplyDeletei love the way they look now, i can't believe there's still work to be done on these rustic beauties!! can't we use them as they are? they look waaaaay cool to me!!
B - a grand idea having a choice, perhaps they might even take more than one!
ReplyDeleteMD, JM, V, Sh, St, L & K - thanks folks for checking out these works in progress. I agree that at times the early stages are so organic and have a very basic beauty - but lots of folk like shiny!! MD -& JM - the process is both therapeutic and creative - so good to share now and then. V- would it not be great to have many of these dotted around the garden for butterflies, birds etc? Sh - not sure what the embellishments will be - I am thinking of testing leaves riveted into the bowls. St & L - I agree the fire creates lovely patina - I understand that there is a Japanese technique for creating a range of colours based on different temperatures - something to investigate. Go well. B
ReplyDeleteThese are all lovely bowls, Barry. I wonder how the customer will choose from such a wonderful selection.
ReplyDeletethese are stunning bowls Barry...perhaps your customer will begin with a collection of bowls as I don't know how one could decide...
ReplyDeleteI think the strategy of offering four is wise. These bowls do seem to have more than just strict aesthetic appeal that could be made to order - there's a certain "feel" to them I don't think any buyer could get without experiencing the object in person. But how to choose just one? Congrats on having a commission!
ReplyDeleteI bet it will be hard for the person to make a choice as to which one they want. They are all wonderful. I love the brass with the 2nd beating and the copper one too.
ReplyDeleteR, L, TT & TL - thanks for your comments - I can imagine all of us thinking the collection - the group of bowls being the thing - those who get multiples and the richness of the unfinished and aged. My sense is that the person will for bright - brass. TT - commissions are good but also challenging?? Go well and create well. B
ReplyDeleteMet with the person who commissioned the work today - she liked several of the bowls but settled on a mid sized brass bowl which I think will go well with the letters pieces she has ordered - more on that down the track when the commission is finished. B
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