Sunday, August 11, 2019

one disaster led to another


My luck ran out and that disaster of a mold produced a disaster of a casting. No amount of cold work can make this usable. I'm not sure why it cast so badly, need to consult with my gurus. If I want to make this piece, I have to start over with a new wax model for the box. I've already pulled out my drawings and made a list of sizes for the wax slabs. I'll start on those tomorrow while I'm grinding away on the heron head and the egg. After another hour and a half yesterday morning I freed the sticks. It was after I came back from that that Marc showed me the box. Well, I know a few things I'll change. The color for one. I like it but not enough contrast with the heron. I'll go darker blue. And no billet. From what I can see, I don't like it. I think I'll do some color samples, see if I can come up with a combination with enough of what I have on hand. I may also not carve the wavy lines if I can come up with a texture I like  or do them differently because I'm not sure I like them.


As mentioned, I finished taking all the excess glass off the sticks.


This morning I got up at 7 AM, went out and watered for 45 minutes and then went over to the shop where I set up and poured the wax for four of the six slabs I need to remake the model

and used the ring saw to cut off most of the extra glass on the heron head inlay 


and then ground off some of the thickness. Came back to the house at 9 AM for my coffee and then back to the shop about 45 minutes later where I used a different machine to grind off the excess glass on the egg and then finished it off on my make-shift flat lap, back to the house for Sunday brunch at 11:30 AM and then back to the shop to set up and pour the wax for the last two slabs and the 1/8” thick sheet and back to the house at 1 PM.


So yeah it's hot and we've exceeded the high 90s forecast and have hit triple digits and I may be done for the day, except for maybe doing the dishes that I've been ignoring while I've been working over at the shop the last three days (and no, I'm not going to show you a picture of my messy kitchen) but not for a while yet.





16 comments:

  1. Are you beginning to think this piece is cursed? I think it's just too hot for you to work at it right now. Of course, I could be wrong. But it's too hot, period.
    I'm staying inside today and being lazy which is very difficult for me but I just can't get up the energy to do anything.

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    1. I've done everything in that shop that needed to be done at this time. remaking the model will be done in the house and that has to be done this coming week if I have any hope of getting this piece to the gallery on time. I hope it's not cursed but a lot does seem to have not gone exactly right.

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  2. The heron, sticks and egg sure did come out fabulously! It is amazing to me that you haven't called it quits. Guess you are really motivated, partly because of the time. You will really need to charge a HIGH price for that piece! Good luck. We are cooking up here in North Texas, too. Staying in, in spite of dogs pleading eyes.

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    1. no way I will ever get a decent wage out of this one. I'm not even keeping track of the hours involves. I price my work based on what I think the market will bear without giving it away. this one will probably net me about 10¢ an hour.

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  3. You may not like the heron head, but I think it's gorgeous.
    Your dedication to work, especially in this heat is admirable, but yes, breaks and lots of water. The dishes can always wait. Or get Mark to do them...

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  4. Oh, bummer about the box mold. I DO like the wavy lines, for what it's worth. The heron head and the egg came out beautifully, I think.

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    1. I think I might incise them instead of carving them the way I did.

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  5. I am amazed to learn how much work this involves. I hope it is your passion driving you in this heat.

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  6. I wish you the best of luck on this final push. I exhaled because all is under control, and then sucked in another big one because I know it ain't over till the heron has a box.

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  7. That heron is stunning. The box will be too. If it first you don't succeed etc.

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  8. Maybe the idea of the heron box is just wrong and that something is trying to tell you that it's just not necesary. Have you thought of something else if this doesn't work?

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    1. I think it's because we cut corners trying to make it easy. that never works. I'm pretty sure it will cast OK next time but I have been trying to come up with a way to use the other components if it doesn't.

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  9. I am loving watching this piece come together.

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  10. That heron is amazing to me! Here's hoping the box cooperates this time!

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  11. I love the heron and the egg. The egg is just wonderful, it's a great color. Here's hoping things will improve.

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  12. Thanks for sharing your process. I so admire your ability to stick with it. When a project turns for me like that one has I usually set it aside and figure that I will eventually get back to it. That is why my studio is filled with unfinished pieces. You are inspirational.

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I opened my big mouth, now it's your turn.