Over on my About - Artists Statement page there is a section titled Answers to Other Questions. In this section I actually rant on about the term SILVERSMITH and how making jewelry in silver is NOT silversmithing.
This weekend, I challenge myself to make a set of Napkin rings in brass so I could prototype a design and working in brass is very similar to working in sterling silver due to the work hardening nature of the material. Copper is easy to work in but too soft to get an idea of how long it might take to make something or how the metal moves.
Oh, and YES this is still silversmithing due to the nature of the item not the material.
I was experimenting on Thanksgiving day with synclastic and anticlastic forms because on my trip to Haystack back in 201, you can see the two copper forms I made while there on this page, and I have wanted to do napkin rings with this shape since then.
From the first anticlastic shape, I ended up actually turning it in to a cuff. I then make a synclastic shape and did an all over hammer texture. I liked it but I was looking at it and I thought that the curve along the top and bottom edge had to be more pronounced so I annealed again and raised the edges more. I did three courses of raising and had a nice shape. Then it was off to polish and they just sparkled. It is a goal to do chasing and repousse on the napkin rings but to start, you have to form them and then I started to work more with a hammer textures and I really liked the way the first one came out - with it not being all over but just in the center and I loved it. I showed the idea to the shop elf and he agreed that it was an elegant look. I finished up the texturing at 7pm.
Next I will be making these napkin rings in sterling silver and both the brass and sterling silver will be for sale in my store
As usual, here are some of the process pictures.
This weekend, I challenge myself to make a set of Napkin rings in brass so I could prototype a design and working in brass is very similar to working in sterling silver due to the work hardening nature of the material. Copper is easy to work in but too soft to get an idea of how long it might take to make something or how the metal moves.
Oh, and YES this is still silversmithing due to the nature of the item not the material.
I was experimenting on Thanksgiving day with synclastic and anticlastic forms because on my trip to Haystack back in 201, you can see the two copper forms I made while there on this page, and I have wanted to do napkin rings with this shape since then.
From the first anticlastic shape, I ended up actually turning it in to a cuff. I then make a synclastic shape and did an all over hammer texture. I liked it but I was looking at it and I thought that the curve along the top and bottom edge had to be more pronounced so I annealed again and raised the edges more. I did three courses of raising and had a nice shape. Then it was off to polish and they just sparkled. It is a goal to do chasing and repousse on the napkin rings but to start, you have to form them and then I started to work more with a hammer textures and I really liked the way the first one came out - with it not being all over but just in the center and I loved it. I showed the idea to the shop elf and he agreed that it was an elegant look. I finished up the texturing at 7pm.
Next I will be making these napkin rings in sterling silver and both the brass and sterling silver will be for sale in my store
As usual, here are some of the process pictures.
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