Rustnstuff: Steampunk

Showing posts with label Steampunk. Show all posts

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Beauty in both the short and the tall

Jo St Baker asked me to make a few more Artisan Lamps for her studio-gallery in Redcliffe - it would appear that the lamps sell well in the industrial-Steampunk setting of her gallery.

I had made one blowtorch lamp before heading off to NZ; and had time to make 4 more before she dropped in to pick the lamps and some jewellery up on Saturday morning.

As always there are a couple of pieces that are favourites. These included the small and tall lamps below.

Not to say the other three aren't attractive as you can see.

I have added a photo of the stash of jewellery heading into Jo's studio-gallery.

Over the weekend I was working on a commission of 20 Leaf Letter-openers - but that is for another time.

Friday, November 27, 2015

Ceremonial Knives with a Steampunk influence

I was asked to make some ceremonial knives for the Steampunk Christmas exhibition-sale in Redcliffe. With a bit of a rush I managed to do a new design and create 3 Ceremonial Knives - ceremony in terms of cutting wedding or birthday cakes etc.

The basic knife forms were made using new copper and brass sheet, recycled wood and silver-plated offcuts from trays - all cut, glued and riveted together. The knives are about 25cm long, 2.5cm wide and 1.5cm thick.

Watch parts were selected and cut and polished to fit the basic knife forms.

The knives were then ground using a belt sander and belt finger sander. They were then polished on the jewellery grinding-polishing wheel. After a coat of oil on the timber they were ready to go.

The knives were delivered yesterday.

Today (Friday) was about: attending Kim S's book launch; starting some small pieces for Maleny Additions; and getting ready for a Christmas celebration with art friends - which means making an art present!!!!

This is my 1001 post - so on Sunday's post there will a giveaway connected to my Sunday post.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Bowls with a difference

My collection of bits for the Steampunk Christmas at Jo St Baker's studio+gallery will include some of my bowls. I have been reworking some earlier fold formed bowls and creating some new Steampunk influenced bowls.

The common design element is the recycled brass and copper metal; and where relevant adding clock parts. As you can see the three bowls share similar design features but include unique bits and embellishments.

The Leaf incense bowls have polished up well.

And the other three foldformed Giving bowls also make there own statements.

I will add a few more bowls out of my gallery shop to these bowls making the total 12. Fiona and I did make the decisions on the pendants and earrings as indicated in Friday's post. The final result could be shared another day.

Friday, November 20, 2015

Decisions decisions ….

Over the last few weeks I have been making Steampunk influenced pendants and earrings ready for A Steampunk Christmas at st+baker+studio and gallery in Redcliffe opening 30 November.

I also want to have some pieces available for Fiona's and my open studio on Friday 4 Dec 5-7pm (drinks on Friday) and 10am-4pm on Saturday 5 Dec.

So over the weekend I will ask Fiona to help me make a few decisions about what will go to Redcliffe and what will be in 601mvr our studio-gallery at 601 Mountain View Road.

Photos following show the stash of pendants

And stash of earrings

It was good to get these completed today.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Beauty on the inside

The title to this post might suggest something noble such as meditation or spirituality - yet it is simply referring to the fact that the mechanics and materials in broken and discarded watches are such amazing pieces of mechanical design and creation. They look beautiful after a good clean and polish.

As part of the Steampunk influenced body of jewellery I'm making for the December sale at Jo St Baker's studio gallery in Redcliffe will include quite a number of pendants and earrings that will use watch and clock parts.

Some of the whole bodies of the bigger watches can become pendants - the largest is about 4cm.

Whereas the bodies and faces of some of the smaller watches are so small that they easily lend themselves to becoming earrings. The smallest rectangular watch bodies are only 2cm long, 1cm wide and about .3-.4cm thick.

I know some folk will like to be able to show the mechanics of the watches with all the shiny brass, stainless steel, garnet jewels and gears; whilst others will show the aged and worn faces - a sign that time has gone by. The solid silver ears-wires can easily be turned around to all either car. And of course with the pendants one just has to turn the piece over - fully reversible pendants.

I have added brass hanging wires into the silver plated handles of small trays - I will pour resin into these and add inclusions such as a single watch gear - they will become pendants.

The work on this stash is about half way there. I have another week or so before I need to deliver the work. There is always the creation of the sales list and final polishing at the end.

Friday, October 30, 2015

Artisan Lamps

Recently it was suggested to me that I could give my assemblage lamps a new name - moving away from identifying them as Steampunk. It was suggested that whilst they had a Steampunk and industrial flavour they were also small sculptural assemblages in their own right. So Fiona and I have decided to rename them Artisan Lamps by Barry Smith.

I'm in the midst of making a new series - needed to get a lot of bits and pieces off my work bench - clean the surfaces a little. This new series will include a number of pairs and also a little more recycled timber. The work has started as you can see from the photos below.

I managed to get a couple finished on Thursday. I didn't get time to work on them today (Friday) as we are having good friends visiting on Friday-Sunday and checking out Fiona's exhibition etc. A few photos of the finished two follow.

One made from Model K Holley Carburettor from Detroit - most likely used on the Model T Ford; some brass pipe; some seriously worn recycled timber; and a vintage brass light fitting.

The other made from a garden spray head; other plumbing bits; brass studs and a patinated vintage brass light fitting.

I tried the Neon Cross lamp globe to see how it went on the small lamp (about 25cm high). The globe was bought for $3 at a garage sale!!!! Guess some might like the plain globe but others might like the cross. I also bought another cross globe - it is a clear screw type globe.

I have another 6 Artisan Lamps to assemble - might get a bit done on Sunday.

Sunday, August 30, 2015

A flock of patinated birds

The weekend was made up of many activities including planting our spring veggie garden; applying fertiliser to roses and other trees; attending a farewell for one of our local artists; and drilling and bolting some of Fiona's works for her upcoming exhibition. And we had 25 mm of rain to settle all the new plants in.

This afternoon I got a bit of time to finish a couple more Steampunk influenced pendants (photos later) and I started on my flock of peace birds for International Peace Day on 21 September.

I intend to make 21 patinated copper birds that will be stamped with the word peace - they will be hang in the tree at the front of our house with Fiona's peace weathergrams. Today I managed to cut out the first handful.