Finishing

 

I have managed to complete 4 more small indoor tabletop sculptural pieces in preparation for our open studio on 13 March. Above are the four finished pieces on the kitchen bench. To give one an idea of size - the two pieces in the centre are 15cm high and 10cmX10cm square

A bit of a peace influence on a couple of the pieces. One has the peace symbol etched into the metal whilst the other has the metal etched away leaving the symbol stand out.

I have now started preparation for etching plates for a three post outdoor sculptural piece - the plates have been cut, ground clean and block out design painted on the aluminium.

Bringing timber and metal together

 

I was able to sand some of the timber blocks I had cut earlier; polish some of the etched aluminium with a steel wire wheel; and attached the plates to the timber with small brass nails. A finished 100mm cube above; and the stash of cut timber below.

In all I managed to finish 4 small tabletop timber and aluminium sculptural pieces. Some photos of the finished four pieces follow.

The pair of pieces below are about 240mm high.

  

The cube below is 100mm - I was informed the timber for the cube below is mulga as is the timber for the pieces above.

The final cube is 150mm - very hard and heat ironbark timber - .

You can see I have played with some wrap around pieces and different shapes - rectangles, square and triangles. I probably have another 6 pieces to go.  I'm pleased how they are turning out. 

Etched panels for small sculptures

 

Today I finished etching some 27 aluminium plates of various sizes that will become elements of small indoor-desk sculptural pieces. I still need to do the final cleaning of the plates but I am happy with the outcome. The plates ranged in size from 5cmX5cm to 12cmX20cm.

The process started with making some templates; and then doing the blockout using red, blue and white paint pens.

Today I did the etching using copper sulphate and table salt - based on Fiona's instructions and quantity measures. Wanting to get the 27 plates done I made 2 litres of a strong solution. Lots of heat and copper froth being given off. The etch on the aluminium is about .25mm-.5mm deep. Etching was done outside with mask on and breeze to blow away and fumes.

The pieces were given a couple of washes when they came out of the solution. Then the remains paint needed to be removed - using Fiona's non-acetone nail-polish remover. 

The final pieces still show signs of paint stain - this will be removed using a wire wheel. The edges of the plates will also have the edges ground.

I'm hoping that by Sunday I can have the timbers sanded and a couple of pieces complete.

Testing an idea

©2019 Barry Smith - Prototype of a small sculpture that represents a traditional Scottish herring boat out on a stormy sea.

I have been playing with the idea of doing a few small works that reflect our time in Scotland.

Each day we walked to the fishing cove at the end of the village. From our research there has been a fishing storage hut in the cove since about 1830.

We had also visited Wick museum and the Whaligoe Steps which both impressed on me the importance and hardship of the herring fishing industry at that time.

My small prototype represent a small traditional Scottish herring boat - powered by sail and oars. A very hard, and most likely dangerous, way to earn a living.

I think the prototype has worked out pretty well.

©2019 Barry Smith - Rough fold-formed hull

©2019 Barry Smith - A good wind from behind - on the workbench

©2019 Barry Smith

The hull is made from fold formed recycled copper sheet; the sail from a salvaged silver-plated tray; and the base is inked salvaged camphor laurel timber .

Peaks complete

©2016 Barry Smith - Cropped view of 7 peaks

I got a good solid run on my two tabletop sculptures over the weekend. I can now say they are complete and in time ready for public outings.

Of course there was more cutting of templates and metal; sanding of bases to ensure they would stand unassisted; and final oil and polish.

©2016 Barry Smith - Bits of metal and paper from creating templates and metal wraps.

©2016 Barry Smith _ Long strips of 8 and 120 grit sandpaper on the workbench

Couple of views of the 7 peak sculpture (just over 1m long) - one piece with seven parts.

©2016 Barry Smith - Seven peaks on hallway table

©2016 Barry Smith - Seven peaks on dining table

And a couple of the 5 peak piece - again one sculpture with 5 parts.

©2016 Barry Smith - Five peaks on hallway table

©2016 Barry Smith - Five peaks on hallway table

I must say that it is good to have another artist with a critical eye and sense of design, Fiona, to talk through set out of the elements of each sculpture - getting the angles, spacing and heights right is important. I have numbered each of the mountain forms and indicated which direction they need to be set out. I have also taken a topdown photo to show the set out.

Now I need to do paper work and packing for each of the sculptures.