Rustnstuff

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Seriously wet

This week has been pretty much like last week weatherwise - lots of misty mornings and evenings; and lots of short sharp rain showers.

I did manage to walk today (Wednesday) between showers. The theme of this blog post is definitely water related: fungi holding water; droplets; birds bomb diving in the mist; and misty vistas.

Fungi - mainly small and delicate

Droplets on flowers and webs

Birds bomb diving - great silhouettes

One can't see the valley for the mist - but a soft beauty

There is always beauty - even if it is a little uncomfortable.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

Something old and something new for a wedding

I got my sculptural mountain-wing wood forms sanded and oiled on Saturday. I now need to let them just absorb the oil fully before I start to add the metal wraps.

So I moved on to a commission to create a wedding cake knife and server from a ornate silver-plated EPNS tray and twisted heavy gauge copper wire. As is often the case with me I decided to make two sets just to ensure that there was a high quality one to deliver. I decided to differentiate between the two sets by adding brass handles to the second one.

Anyway the process started with marking up and cutting up a 30cm 'round' silver-plated tray - this way I can get the most out of a tray. Of course there are a few off cuts that well become leaf forms and other things.

I twisted, hammered, bent and drilled the cut pieces and heavy gauge wire; and they were ready for grinding and polishing.

And then all the bits were brought together through the riveting process. I think both sets have turned out well - so options exist for the client. The knives are about 30cm long including the handle; and the servers are between 23cm and 25cm long.

Hopefully a set will be packed and posted early next week. Then I will get back on to the small sculptures.

Friday, March 11, 2016

Sculptural progress

There are works that just take the time they are going to take. At the moment I'm working on two small indoor sculptural works that will hopefully go into a couple of upcoming exhibitions. The sculptures have flight and mountains as the connected themes. One of the installations will have 7 mountain forms and the other 5 forms.

I had done the rough cutting of the timber based on my templates. The big job was to do the sanding to create the mountain yet wingtip like form. I love the cross section of the wing tip - lovely tapered shape as you can see from the photo below.

I have done the first sand of the 12 red cedar timber pieces with a very heavy grit sandpaper on my belt sander to get the mountain-wing shape.

Then it is a matter of two more sandings to get the refined form and the smooth finish so that the pieces can be oiled and polished a couple of times with steel wool. I have got three pieces to the first oiled-polished stage as you can see from the photo below.

Over the weekend I will finish the saving and oiling; and then during the week add the aluminium sheeting to the forms. But now it is the end of Friday - so time to sit, reflect and have pumpkin and blue cheese risotto and a red wine.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Misty morning magic

On the mountain we seem to be having our January weather in March - lots of short sharp rain showers - including heavy short rain showers overnight. It means I'm not getting a lot of work done outside; but it does result in some beautiful soft mornings and lots of moisture for growing moss and fungi and small droplets on all manner of things.

The different light of Monday and Wednesday morning in the valley.

Fungi on the walk this morning.

Tiny spider clinging to its web with a bug for breakfast.

And another moss droplet.

On the downside the grass and weeds are growing; but on the upside the air is clean and the autumn potatoes plants have started to push through the soil.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Art on the surface in the city

Fiona and I have just returned to the mountain after a few days in Melbourne for work-work. We did manage walk to and from our accommodation a work - so got to see a few sights on the way; and on Saturday we spent a few hours wandering Fitzroy.

In cities I love being able to enjoy the incidental nature of coming across both public art; and some of the feral art such as yarn bombing; some graffiti art; and the odd feral installation.

Fiona and I loved how the rain drops hung on a cluster of large stainless steel pebbles.

And an avenue of yarn bombed trees.

Some of the lane way and carpark graffiti.

And a curious little ceramic installation on a ledge of a disused garden bed - seen out of the corner of one's eye - we almost walked by.

Some areas in cities have such a vibrant spirit - Fitroy seems to be one of the 'homes' of graffiti art - some of it very good and some not so good and some just vandalised by mindless tags.