Two years and some odd months ago, I started this project - then the move and no studio kept me from finishing it. When I unpacked the studio, and I got around to organizing my chasing & repousse equipment, I found the cup and put it on the counter with the other projects I wanted to get back to. This weekend was it, having 4 days off.
The dragon scale cup, when I resumed work on Thursday, was filled with pitch and the lining of the of the scales had been completed. Before I started the deep chasing, I decided to pull the pitch out, re-anneal the cup and then refill the cup and let it cool.
Next up was placing the cup in the pitch bowl such that is was supported but could also be rotated around, so I could work the entire cup. This was taught to my by Liza Nechamkin of Nechamkin Silver Studios.- again everything had to cool so the pitch would support, not yield, nor crack so the vessel has to be pushed into the pitch bowl almost half way. A plastic bag is used to cover the vessel so the pitch does not stick to it.
Saturday, I was able to start the deep chasing; to push the areas around the scales inward and keep the scales at their original position around the cup diameter. Once that was done which took three turns around the cup to get all the scales, I then pondered texturing the scales.
Are scales like nails on our hands that have ridges; do scales have growth lines that follow the shape of the scale? This was the dilemma I now faced. I did some Googling and asked in the Chasing & Repousse group for ideas and I came up with an idea for radiating ridge lines.
Today, Saturday, I started to add the lines and the more I did, the more I did not like them so I stopped and left two scales un-done (no lines). Since this is a practice piece, this is what it all about; figuring out what works and does not.
It was now time to remove the pitch and do a high polish with all three grades of compound, then to patina the copper so the deep area's are dark and a quick polish to re-polish the scales and to remove the patina. I finished around 6 pm.
Here are all the pictures from the last 3 days of work, I hope you enjoy them.
The dragon scale cup, when I resumed work on Thursday, was filled with pitch and the lining of the of the scales had been completed. Before I started the deep chasing, I decided to pull the pitch out, re-anneal the cup and then refill the cup and let it cool.
Next up was placing the cup in the pitch bowl such that is was supported but could also be rotated around, so I could work the entire cup. This was taught to my by Liza Nechamkin of Nechamkin Silver Studios.- again everything had to cool so the pitch would support, not yield, nor crack so the vessel has to be pushed into the pitch bowl almost half way. A plastic bag is used to cover the vessel so the pitch does not stick to it.
Saturday, I was able to start the deep chasing; to push the areas around the scales inward and keep the scales at their original position around the cup diameter. Once that was done which took three turns around the cup to get all the scales, I then pondered texturing the scales.
Are scales like nails on our hands that have ridges; do scales have growth lines that follow the shape of the scale? This was the dilemma I now faced. I did some Googling and asked in the Chasing & Repousse group for ideas and I came up with an idea for radiating ridge lines.
Today, Saturday, I started to add the lines and the more I did, the more I did not like them so I stopped and left two scales un-done (no lines). Since this is a practice piece, this is what it all about; figuring out what works and does not.
It was now time to remove the pitch and do a high polish with all three grades of compound, then to patina the copper so the deep area's are dark and a quick polish to re-polish the scales and to remove the patina. I finished around 6 pm.
Here are all the pictures from the last 3 days of work, I hope you enjoy them.
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