Rustnstuff: Light Catchers

Showing posts with label Light Catchers. Show all posts

Sunday, August 19, 2018

Creating a small gift

The photo above is a good example of the fact that one needs to see the potential in stuff. I wanted to make a small funky Light Catcher for a friend - as you can see the starting main element below was not pretty.

A bit dis-assembling and selection of a couple of additional bits and I was on my way.

It took quite a bit of time to remove built up grime, oil and soot. And I had to grind back a failed patch up job done in the past. But the pieces revealed some underlying beauty.

The main bits were glued together and left to cure in the vise.

And the beauty of the piece was revealed on the rusty metal trolley.

I think it will be treasured.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

An Artisan Lamp and a Couple of Light Catchers

My goal for today was to complete at least one Artisan Lamp - which I did. But I remembered I needed to make a couple of interesting assemblage gifts for a couple of children. I decided to make them Light Catchers. So I did not get to work on any other lamps.

As one does I worked on the three assemblages concurrently. The pieces were all selected and adapted before heading over to the grinding-polishing area.

The Artisan Lamp has turned out well - good balance of the bits. And as you can see from the photos it also works. The lamp looks great front on but I was running out of time to fuss with photographs.

The two Light Catchers share one element - the 'twirlie' bit which come from a old pendant lamp.

I feel satisfied with the creative outcome for the day.

Friday, January 27, 2017

Siblings not twins - funky Light Catchers

Yesterday I started a couple of smallish Light Catchers and finished them today. I have had a collection of stuff spread one my 'inspiration table' for some time and this pair just asked to be made.

The main element in both pieces is vintage gas welding tips that are stored on the hexagonal centre piece. I had never seen one of these over all the years I have been doing small assemblage pieces and then suddenly two turned up in a couple of boxes of stuff from two different sources. Partly what I like about these objects is that whilst some of the welding tips are missing this provides the opportunity to move the others around to create their own pattern.

Of course my assemblages start with design, quite a bit of cutting, drilling and creating threads in bolts and on rods. Love piles of brass chipping created as by products of the process.

The bits looking good after the grinding and polishing process.

And then the assembling - both Light Catchers are looking good.

It was a good way to spend part of my birthday and good to finish these today.

Sunday, January 8, 2017

A little bit of art

There is always the desire to create lurking even in a weary recovering body. So I grab an hour yesterday and another couple of hours this afternoon to make a little something.

Sometimes it is best to revert to the simple and the things that have brought one joy in the past. So I decided to make one (maybe two) Light Catchers from the heads of a couple of long handled spirit soldering irons - I bought a stash of these some months ago. I also knew I had two good antique crystals that would be used as a feature and catch the light.

The heads of the soldering irons can start out quite cumbersome and a bit ungainly but I know that under all that rust and excess metal lurks lovely brass.

After detaching the heads and stripping the excess metal; I was in a position to rummage around my brass bits and pieces and come up with some interesting objects to loosely construct the two bodies.

I had the time and energy to grind, polish and assemble one of the Light Catchers - I'm please about that.

I'm on the mend - but more rest and recuperation required.

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Foible for a friend

I have started the process of spreading stuff out and selecting bits for a series of Steampunk Lamps - two of which are to be used in our house. But as you can see from the photo above I got sidetracked - I decided to make a small Light Catcher for a friend. You can see a couple of the bits in the photo below that suggested I make the Light Catcher.

Getting a few of the pieces ready for assemblage.

And a few photos of the piece as it turned out.

I'm hoping it will bring a bit of joy. The base is from a heavy brass building sign, the uprights are silver-plated hexagonal rods from fine candle holders, the long crystal drop was bought in a flea market in NY, and the round balls etc are from an old clock. Lot of polishing was required.

Friday, December 12, 2014

More Friday foibles

Fiona and I are off to an early Christmas dinner with some fellow artists; and of course it is one of those bring a handmade Christmas gift affairs - for a lucky dip gift exchange. So down into the garage-studio to whip up a couple of small assemblages - one influenced by my Light Catchers and another influenced by Steampunk.

The small light catcher influenced piece is about 8-9cm high, 8-9cm long and 5cm wide. It is made from discarded heavy brass plate (.5cm thick), weights from an old clock, brass pipe and fitting and crystal from an old scent bottle. The piece has a quiet classic balanced look about it.

The Steampunk influenced piece is made from discarded brass plate, clock and pocket watch parts, leg off a silver-plated tray and section of discarded and slightly mangled copper pipe. It has a lot of motion about it - looks like the gears are about to take off - the big gear can be rotated. This piece is about 15-18cm long, 10-12cm high and 6cm wide.

I think the Steampunk piece is more playful and will make a suitable quirky Christmas present.

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Light Catchers take two

I did get around to finishing the second of the Light Catchers I started on Friday.

This second Light Catcher has very clean and simple lines using: part of a weaving shuttle; a heating element out of a small boiler; two vintage crystals; and a brass plate from an old clock. It almost looks like it is a crystal powered craft - slight influence of Steampunk.

I also changed the crystal in the first Light Catcher and so reduced the centre of gravity. I polished the brass plate it sits on.

Both the Light Catchers are now over in the studio-gallery

Friday, November 14, 2014

Light Catchers

As I did not have anything that I needed to do in the garage-studio today - I decided to use a few of the bits and pieces I have on the table to make a couple of Light Catchers.

If you recall my Light Catchers are whimsical assemblage pieces that sit on a window ledge and catch the sunlight and reflect it into the room through vintage crystals.

As you can see from the photos below I started with two piles of stuff; which after cleaning, sanding cutting and drilling etc became more attractive piles.

One pile became a piece that would appeal to people who like tools.

I think this piece still needs adjustment - it is too high - so I will get to that over the weekend - I hope. And the other has a Steampunkish nautical theme; but will be revealed at a later date after the assembling is finished

Fiona tells me that the nachos is ready and the wine has breathed - I'm out of here.