Rustnstuff

Sunday, June 15, 2014

Sharing with friends - old and new

Well another Open Studio has passed. Fiona and I always ask ourselves what these events are about - is it the promotion of our art; is it about selling; is it about profile? Well - yes it is about all those things; but it is also about sharing the art story and the art journey with people - some folk who have visited the studio before; and some new visitors including some whom just saw the Open Studio sign on the side of the road and decided to drop in.

The number of visitors was steady over the weekend - it gave us the opportunity to: spend time with people; to learn a little more about each other; and it gave us time to re-affirm that Fiona and I have a fortunate art live.

I thought I would just share a few photos of the studio and how it was set up for the weekend. There is every chance that Fiona will share many similar photos.

And at the end of the weekend we are tired but happy.

Friday, June 13, 2014

The beauty of leaves

The preparation for our Open Studio over this coming weekend (14-15 June) is all but completed - including art pieces we want on display.

I made a promise to myself to create a few more bigger works this year - so I aimed to create another version of leaf installation that I did for the Aspects Art Show; and to create a large Leaf Spiral post. Well I'm please to say I got both these pieces finished.

Below are a few of the photos of the beautiful patina on the leaves for the Leaf Spiral; and photos of the finished piece.

Leaf Spiral is about 2m high and 25cm square the timber is a soft wood (seems to be Camphor Laurel) - the timber has been oiled. The leaves have been coated with varnish as this is an indoor piece. The leaf forms vary in size; but are between 27.5cm and 30cm in length.

I always like the transformation that takes place when I'm creating leaf forms on steel rod: riveting the copper metal leaf shaped blanks to the steel rods; hammering them; giving them a grind, polish and a wash with soaps suds; and then hit them with the patina solution.

The installation is designed to be set up in gravel or a grassy sunlit spot in a garden - something to discover. The patina will continue to age as it has not been coated with any fixative. All the leaves for both pieces are made from recycled copper from the bases of two shower recesses

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Shadows and early light

Lately I have been intrigued by the shadows and reflections on the bench in the kitchen. Love the way the winter light creates shadows and reflection off the stainless steel kettle and teapot; and the refraction of light through glass. The dots in the photo are the grain of the stone bench.

And of course there is always morning light. Though given that the sun is rising at 6.30am there is not a lot of light when I go walking at 6am.

But it comes good by 6.30am - sun rising in Treehaven Way (last Wednesday).

And enough light to show off a few fungi on my way home and on the block.

And then the soft light in the valley again at sundown today.

Light is such a gift - love it.

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Progressing ….

In the lead up to our Open Studio next weekend (14-15 June) both Fiona and I are working on progressing and finishing a number of pieces - both to show what we do; and of course also to have pieces for sale.

Over the weekend I finished the Daily Words-leaves sets (3 sets).

I stamped and ground a few Peace Pendant bits - still need final polish, holes punched and chains in place. One of the three is for an acquaintance who is having a hard time health wise - I thought it could be good to send her some positive words and energy - that pendant will say "healing peace".

And finished the words for my regular Daily Words sets.

And started three projects using big fold-formed leaf forms (25cm - 30cm). I intend to finish the large leaf spiral post I started a couple of months ago; make a smaller version of Bending that I did for Goondiwindi; and a small tabletop group of larger leaf forms. All the leaf-forms are to have a lovely greenish copper patina.

Below is the metal after pickling and scrubbing.

And then folded and cut. Pretty hard on the hands doing this size and quantity

And 10 that have been hammered - I ran out of time and hammering energy.

Quite a good bit of progress over the weekend - a few things to finish during the week. I will be updating my shop after the Open Studio weekend.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Beginnings and endings...

Friday started with 6 cubic metres of Cyprus Pine wood chip mulch; and ended with 7 shiny Daily Words bowls (recycled silver plate over copper and EPNS) - quite a contrast but all art in its own way.

Fiona and I are giving the entrance to our place a bit of a make over - increasing the stone gutter along the driveway, putting in a log edge to define the curve of the driveway and mulch to replace grass (and weeds) and provide a space for art and some bushes.

Fiona got stuck into mulching the top; whilst I mulched the bottom of the new mulched bed.

And after our work it looked pretty good - sweeping lines and a bit of a rusty assemblage on one of the old tree stumps.

After lunch it was a matter of getting down to the studio-garage and hammering the 7 Daily Word metal blanks; and of course the all needed a bit of grinding and polishing to give them shine.