The first four
molds for the heron box...the head inlay, the sticks, the egg, and the
top...are done
and I did all the volume measures yesterday. The way I
do that is I fill a container with water, weigh it in grams, pour the
appropriate amount of water into the mold, weigh the container again
and subtract the second number from the first and then multiply the
difference by 2.5 which is the specific gravity of the glass I use to
get the weight of glass I need to accurately fill the mold.
The first two to
go in the kiln will be the sticks and the egg. I've decided on colors
for the egg, sort of a by-the-seat-of-my-pants decision. I have two
color samples,
one is a little
too green (combo of two colors), the other a little too blue (also a
combo of two colors with one color common to both) so I'm going to
try to hit the middle by using all three colors and then just to make
it a little more iffy I'm going to mix that with a translucent white
to try and get the right tint...maybe. Still need to pick my color
for the sticks and hopefully I'll get the molds filled today, but
maybe not since it's a yoga day and I've agreed to lead the class
this evening since Abby won't be able to come so I want to jot down a
sequence this time instead of trying to think what to do on the spot.
Nothing else
happening. Still hot though yesterday was more tolerable
(notice I didn't say 'cooler' because that won't enter the equation
for at least 2 1/2 more months). I'm still watering every morning. I
ordered the plaster impregnated gauze and it should be here Friday. I
still have one more casting box to make for the piece that will be
the reservoir for the heron box. I need reservoirs to hold all the
glass frit since it takes up about twice as much space unfired as it
does fired.
Once I get the heron box done I want to try a combination of my regular process and the modeling glass, create some elements with the modeling glass and then add them as an inclusion on a wax model.
I'm sure people don't realize how much math is involved in being a glass artist! It will be interesting to see how everything turns out, given your complex color calculations. We're getting rain every day here in Florida but it's still crazy hot.
ReplyDeleteWell, this was a lesson of applied math/physics. Amazing work. I am looking forward to the final colours.
ReplyDeleteI love how this type of art requires your brain to use technical functions as well as simply what we see as "artistic." It suits how I perceive you, Ellen.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know there was so much math involved. I can't wait to see the final result. Yeah, it's hot and muggy here. I need to water tomorrow morning. I water every two days.
ReplyDeleteI water every morning, but then it's all hanging and standing pots. This morning I was home free the first time; we had a tremendous storm overnight, then another storm in the afternoon.
ReplyDeleteYour last sentence: does that describe a kind of visual of the process of the work that will be on exhibit, along with the heron?
it's an idea and also a visual process, visualizing the supposed finished piece, thinking how it might be accomplished. but no, not to exhibited with the heron box. the box will go straight to the gallery. she's been nagging at me for it ever since I first described it to her while it was still in the model making stage.
Deleteno idea, mystery to me , all of it except that those two colors are exquisite!
ReplyDeleteyou color work sounds wonderfully absorbing. and i agree, both colors are lovely.
ReplyDeleteMan - I would probably end up with a muddy brown egg if I tried to combine colors like that. Can't wait too see the end result!
ReplyDeleteOMG. Math. It is going to be - pardon the expression - a true work of art. I cannot wait to see it finished.
ReplyDelete