Rustnstuff

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Grey soft still morning

The contrast between Monday and Wednesday morning was so stark. Monday morning's dawn was full of peach colours and a valley filled with cloud puddles. Today the dawn was layers of grey and grey-blue.

The world of my walk this morning seemed subdued in colour but fully alive with the call and presence of birds and bees.

Many of the birds sat and groomed themselves and filled the air with song.

The perfume of the mock-organge blossom was pungent and the bees could not resist.

But there was colour as well with the native blossoms

And other mysteries and surprises as well.

A restful calming walk.

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Eye of the beholder - looking beyond the dust and tarnish

This post is about two things: collecting stuff to be used in creating; and some production from such stuff.

On Friday morning my brother Neil visited and dropped off a box of stuff; and then on saturday Fiona and I attended Recyclearama at our local show grounds.

Between these two events I have ended up with a heap of stuff: silver-plate and lots of brass and copper objects, fittings and pipe to be used in my work. A few photos of the stuff follows.

I love the attention to detail in some of the gas-light fittings - I think it is so appropriate that the gas light fittings will find their way into Artisan lamps and other light related assemblages.

The silver-plate will be used for vessels and other functional pieces such as those that are in the photos below: brass in a commission of 20 Leaf Letter-openers; and Leaf form pate knives and Leaf-spoons for Maleny Additions.

I must admit I look at objects in a different way to others - looking at what they can become.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Tiny sculptures or just heavy metal?

I have polished a number of the pieces we formed during our metal melting day last week. I guess there are always going to be some folk who prefer the pieces in their raw state. The polished pieces will appeal to others as the process can bring out the beauty of the metal and also highlight texture.

I think some of the pieces have turned into small solid metal sculptures.

Others like the heart simply become beautiful pieces to hold and feel.

And others can become interesting, though heavyish, jewellery such as the pendants below - one from the first metal melt and the watch inclusion from last week. The rubies in the watch body are still intact.

And the good thing about the melting is that there can be two or more faces to the pieces - the smoother face, with bubbles and inclusions, that was in the mould and the surface face that was exposed to the cooling air. So the pendants are reversible - two for the price of one!!!

The magic of these pieces is not only in the fact that they have come about by melting small fragments of silver-plated brass; but also the colour that results - the amalgam of silver gives the brass a luminous silver hue; and that each surface gives a different image and texture. I certainly will continue to develop this technique.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Cornucopia type of morning

This morning felt like autumn - coldish, grey and at first there seemed to be many things that were ended such as the pods above and below; or on their last legs.