Etching and Patination of Metals
Metals wear beautifully over time. Considering that most of the elements on the periodic table are metals, they readily engage in a wonderful interplay when placed with other elements. Much of my time in graduate school was spent working on ways to age metals, burying them in the dirt or salts and acids. Metals are quite responsive and any experimentation can bring exciting and unexpected results. My initial motivation was to make objects that look like artifacts. Out of th
Using the Lathe to Clean Up Your Castings
Casting metals is a lot of work but with rewarding result. You foundry buffs know that clean up is a large part of the work, especially if you are going for precision geometrics. But master craft, James, let me in on a way to use the lathe for clean up that yeilded a quick, consistent finish. Allow me to give a word of appropriate warning. The lathe can be one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment in the shop. Use with adequate training and healthy fear. In general, I
Silvered Glass
It's fascinating that most elements on the periodic table are metals. Their qualities are diverse. Exploring the myriad ways to use metals in art gives one the privilege of playing with the very building blocks of the universe. I had been looking for reflectivity in paint as a way to engage light as a medium in my 2 dimensional work. Having been inspired by the art of the middle ages at the National Museum and the Louvre, I went on a search to make use of metals in my own w
Speed Up Your Silver Soldering with Smith's Twin Tip
I wanted to review and recommend the Twin Tip for Smith's Little Torch. Bottom line: I love it! The Smith Little Torch is just terrific because of the flame and heat precision it allows in soldering copper and brass. It works great for most of my projects though I'm using a rather pricey solder with the highest melting point I can find for structural strength. But at times you need to break out the silver solder when a joint is weight bearing and and must retain structural
My Dad's Hands
"Your work has such a POWERFUL sense of THE FATHER." These were Alex Radin's words, his first reaction to seeing my work in person. With a smile on his face, this memory warms me inside. I’ve been drawing my dad’s hands since I was a little girl. He was always so strong and when he was near, our home felt safe. His hands and feet became my normal for what hands and feet should be like artistically. In college, he was patient enough to allow me to make some plaster casts as
Working with Artist On Fire
I have to say that working with Artist on Fire will never leave me the same. The initiators, Alex and Sara Radin, are some of the most remarkable people I have ever met. Humility and the arts are not two things that often go together, and Charleston is in no need of another young artist dude who doesn’t know that he doesn’t know. Not to mention, it’s difficult coming into a new group of artists; I’m not up for the shameless display where everyone peacocks around trying to
