Some like them raw

It is still raining on the mountain so there is not a lot of opportunity to get outside and do jobs on the block - though today I managed to mow and harvest pumpkins. Still the wet weather provides the opportunity to zip down into the garage-studio in the afternoon for a couple of hours and belt something out after doing work work etc. I'm in leaf production mode. There are at least another 120 to be foldformed by the end of the weekend.

Over the weekend we will be catching up with fellow artist Jo Murray - she has some recycled metal for me; and has been coveting some small leaves for earrings. But Jo does not want the 'polished shiny ones' - she wants leaves as they come out of the fire and off the anvil - in their raw hammered state. Though I had a pair ready I always like to give people choices so I made a few more raw leaves for her to choose from as you can see from below.

Barry Smith © Small 'soft' leaves in raw for (25-30mm long)

Barry Smith © Long thin leaves in the raw (35mm long)

Barry Smith © Four pairs of leaves in the raw

I have cut and folded about 60 leaf forms ready for hammering and unfolding.

Barry Smith © Anodised aluminium leaf forms - cut and folded

But one of the lovely aspects of the cutting of the recycled anodised aluminium lids, cake 'tins' and storage containers into leaf forms is the glittery bling offcuts.

Barry Smith © Delicious anodised aluminium offcuts

One of the less creative phases of making pieces that are  made up of multiples is the almost production line approach one needs to take to the making of all the multiple pieces - so it is important for me to keep the vision in my mind and see each piece in its place in the bigger installation.