Wednesday, September 7, 2011

From the fire

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.

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.

Barry Smith © Four in the rough
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.

Barry Smith © Stretched copper
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).

14 comments:

  1. 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 -

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  2. It must be very therapeutic.. all that hammering. Amazing what results you get.

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  3. i can so envision these outdoors...feeding butterflies?!

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  4. Really beautiful textures...how will you embellish the other three?

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  5. These are wonderful, Barry. I love the fire patina!

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  6. B - 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 ...

    i 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!!

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  7. B - a grand idea having a choice, perhaps they might even take more than one!

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  8. MD, 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

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  9. These are all lovely bowls, Barry. I wonder how the customer will choose from such a wonderful selection.

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  10. these are stunning bowls Barry...perhaps your customer will begin with a collection of bowls as I don't know how one could decide...

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  11. I 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!

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  12. I 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.

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  13. R, 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

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  14. Met 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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Comments are welcomed - it is good to connect with fellow travellers.