Friday, June 26, 2015

As if holding water...

©2015 Barry Smith - One of the curved pendants from my - 'as if holding water' series today
I can't say that today has not been filled with art  - it has; but not all creative stuff in the studio. Meg came to pick up her stash - smiles!!! The Peace in the Trees Sculptural Walk on the Maleny Precinct is coming to fruition after almost two years of work - still doing more paper work etc today but hopefully in about four weeks it will be installed. I have almost finished a big re-organisation of my growing stash of silver-plated metal - only tea-pots to be cut up and stored. And I had a play with my disk punch, dapping blocks; and resin - to create a few bits for earrings and pendants.

I aimed to create small basin shapes to carry the resin and crystals - almost as though the curve was holding water and crystals. Anyway, readers of the post can be the judge.  The disks are about 25mm in diameter. All of the pieces below are part of what I'm affectionately calling - 'as if holding water'!!!

©2015 Barry Smith -  Patterned silver-plate over brass
©2015 Barry Smith -  Patterned silver-plate over copper
©2015 Barry Smith -  Plain silver-plate over copper
©2015 Barry Smith -  Patterned silver-plate over brass
©2015 Barry Smith - A gathering of earring drops
©2015 Barry Smith - Square curved pendant (about 30mm sq) - patterned silver-plate over brass
©2015 Barry Smith -  Patterned silver-plate over copper
©2015 Barry Smith -  Curved triangle pendant
©2015 Barry Smith -  Curved pendant - patterned silver-plate over brass
©2015 Barry Smith - Recycled flat foot off a bowl
©2015 Barry Smith - Square curved pendant (about 30mm sq) - plain silver-plate over brass
One thing I was disappointed with a little was that there are quite a few tiny bubbles caught in the resin which means the clarity is not what it could be. Not sure what I can do about that - maybe a few suggestions out there? Another lessons learnt - use solid crystals of a reasonable strong colour. My crystals were the threading type and the clearer colours and edges became transparent.

Still I really like the 'as if holding water' effect - and making the curved pieces from scrap and adding the resin was fun - a bit of an adventure - which was my word for the day.

Now it is time for a single malt.
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9 comments:

  1. artpropelledJune 26, 2015 at 11:40 PM

    When I was reading up on resin jewelry I remember several articles on bubbles. Google bubbles in resin tutorials on YouTube . These are beautiful Barry. I love your curious spirit. Always experimenting and enjoying new processes. I'm you are never bored!

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  2. Anvil ArtifactsJune 27, 2015 at 3:20 AM

    Fascinating new series! Lovely pieces. Here's the tricks that come readily to mind about the bubbles. Warming the resin before mixing (the hardener doesn't need warmed). Heat will often rid the resin of bubbles. Gently blowing on the surface through a straw after you've poured it, then again after about 20 minutes. Running a torch a few inches above the resin. Letting it cure in a room no cooler than 74 degrees. Also pouring the resin very slowly, in a thin fine line will help. Hope that you'll find something that eliminates the problem for you. I try to do resin work in a really warm room and it seems to help immensely.

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  3. Velma BolyardJune 27, 2015 at 3:29 AM

    this idea is nifty, why not use small crystals that are not beads, but actual natural crystals, of different sorts. i like the bubbles myself, but i totally understand what i see in the photo might be very different from what you see in your hand!

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  4. mairedoddJune 27, 2015 at 3:46 AM

    the effect is beautiful - i have done this myself and found that resin is quite particular. i don't know what brand you are using. i have used ice resin - a 2 part. it likes to be more on the warm side vs. cool. in winter, i have worked it under a lamp. you can use toothpicks to 'pop' bubbles. (thinking here...) while stirring with the popsicle sticks or whatever you use, stir slowly, moving around the edges, scraping the sides. and try to allow bubbles to rise in this stage. despite it's finicky nature, i do like resin and what can be done with it. if you start to get curious about using natural materials, remember that resin can handle oil, but not water. so flowers/leaves should be dried.
    i am sure the trio was beyond delighted with their adornment.

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  5. Jo MurrayJune 27, 2015 at 5:48 AM

    Great idea...don't mind the bubbles. It's as if the crystals have just been dropped into the water. Solid crystals are better than ones with holes, the 'bead' look is too obvious..

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  6. SandyJune 27, 2015 at 6:30 AM

    Oh! I was just coming on here to say, I really love the ones with bubbles because they seem more like water! If there were bits in the bottom of pools of water, generally there would be bubbles of oxygen coming up from them.
    I realise that people who do resin don't actually want bubbles, but in this case it works.
    Sandy in the UK

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  7. UnknownJune 27, 2015 at 4:28 PM

    Looking terrific. I concur with Anvil - I waft my heat gun over the resin or use a straw to blow the bubbles away. Can't wait to see what comes next!

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  8. rumaJune 28, 2015 at 7:06 AM

    Hello.

    　　It is my joy to share your wonderful works.
    　　And sweet message charms my heart.

    　　I pray for your happiness and world peace.
    　 Thank you World-wide LOVE, and your Support.

    Have a good weekend. From Japan, ruma❃

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  9. BarryJune 29, 2015 at 8:54 PM

    R, AA, V, MJ, JM, S, S & Ruma - thanks all for your generous support and helpful advice. R - Googling is good but I worry about the flame and chemicals given I only have one really functional eye. AA - I think the warm room thing would help. V - I also like the bubbles - like the bubbles of champagne - but others want it all glass clear. MJ - thanks - heaps of great ideas and the next time round I will be printing the comments out and applying them - one of the best hints is to stir gently. JM - i'm returning to metal - no crystals!! S - glad there are those like me who like bubbles - the natural look. S - Thanks. Ruma - always good to have you visit - must find out where you live in Japan - when next I visit it would be good to catch up. All - go well and terse the boundaries. B

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