Seal mask experiements

Here is a slump of the seal head I made last year. I sandblasted the inside and masked the eyes so they remained clear. About to try another test.

Setting up for experiments

This morning I got out of the kiln a few tree blocks I made to start testing my fire polishing schedules. I ended up coldworking the lumps and edges with an 80 belt linisher sanblasting the whole thing at 150 grit and then masking the sides and sandblasting the fronts at 320 grit.

'The Tree' opening

Piccies of my work "New stories from the old wood" at the opening tonight of 'The Tree' at the Canberra Glassworks.

Loot!

Wonderful glass cutoffs from March Canberra Glassworks artist in residence Debra Jurss. Gorgeous coastal panels.

Debra Jurss

Thanks Deb!

New stories from the old wood

Finally finished, 'New stories from the old wood' just before packing up, hence the luxurious location of the mould room. This work will be included in the group exhibition detailed below.

The Tree

19 March to 8 May 2014

Curated by Clare Belfrage
Exhibition Design & Coordination by Ruth White

The Tree, an elongated stem or trunk that supports leaves or branches. The theme is interpreted in a myriad of ways; with humour, metaphor and studies of nature.
This is an exhibition of many parts, with works by Matt Curtis, Kirstie Rea, Melinda Willis, Emilie Patteson, Tom Moore, Yusuké Takemura, Mel George, Nudibranch, Ben Sewell, Bridget Thomas, Harriet Schwarzrock, Sui Jackson, Belinda Toll, Holly Grace, Jacqueline Gropp, Suzanne Peck, Tim Edwards, Alana Corr, Erin Conron, Lisa Cahill, Luna Ryan, Christine Atkins, Alexandra Frasersmith, Spike Deane and Clare Belfrage.
Guest speaker: Adam Burgess, Curator of the National Arboretum Canberra
Exhibition Opening: Wednesday, 26 March at 6pm
Gallery Talk: Saturday, 29 March at 10.30am

Gold leafing

Gold leafing is quite fiddly, well where I was trying to do it anyways. Adhered with gelatin and sealed with a mat finish.

Felting (fulling) knitting

I am undecided on how to proceed with the 'selkie coat'. As soon as I bought some linen, as gorgeous as it is my brain goes, no wool would be better. I had been thinking how good felt would look, that is hand felted and shaped, but i'm a bit daunted about making such a large project. So I though about maybe knitting something then felting or 'fulling' it. Fulling shrinks the knitted or woven fabric and matts the fibres together to create a more even surface. This first test is: Undyed 8 ply merino knitted up in stockinette on 5.5 size needles. I did a little scrubbing in between washes (with other clothes). Some advice I had read on the internet suggested to knit up the yarn on larger needles (which I did) because the fulling works better with some room for the fibres to mesh. After the first wash though, it looks as though I made it too big. So the next test, I think I will use larger needles with a few strands of yarn.

Knitted h20 x w18cm

First wash h15 x w17cm

Through washing machine a second time h12 x w15cm

Through washing machine a third time h12 x w14 cm

Antler preferences

I posted an array of antler / tree options on facebook earlier this week and got lots of feedback! Drawing almost done, just a bit more tweaking...

Snap 100 work finished

Snap 100, piece packed and signed...

Tessuti fabric

3 meteres of gorgeously soft white linen arrived at the door this morning and I only ordered it yesterday!
I finally decided to try out linen for the selkie coat... I need to start at least. This is the first time I have ordered online from Tessuti and the fabric was beautifully wrapped in tissue paper, old pattern tissue and ribbon.

3 meters of linen

Su..uuuuuhnering...Su..uuuuuhnering

The joys of Suhner-ing... or grinding and polishing glass. 

Thank you Jeremy Lepisto for introducing me to these: Electrostatic Diamond Disks, Once I remember the size of the pad I will be getting more of these, oh and a Cerium pad too.

Lamp shade sample

I have been making a sample for a light shade for our bedroom. Stitches, piercings and cuts in differnt patterns on card. I show Dougie, holding it up to th light and ask for some feedback. "It needs to be a bit bigger" he says!

IT'S A SAMPLE! I say, it's not meant to be full size!

Lists

The entry to our house and hallway is lined with my diary and lists (no family photographs). Not content with the next 4 months plotted, I have another list on the back of the front door that takes each project, stage by stage. Feels good to start crossing things off

Joe will fix it!

Joe (husband of Leanne, Dougie's PA) & my pink drill & Dremel come to the rescue... Dougie and Van back on the road again

Thanks Joe!

Sketchbook December 2013 - January 2014

My sketch and note book from December to January. A lot of these are done on the bus, so shaky writing happens

Midnight grove conceptual drawings

Here are my conceptual drawings to go along with the wax that I have made for the Kirra Illuminating Glass Award (KIGA). Expression of interests closed today (mine's in) Just getting the drawings finished and then we wait for the judges decision of who gets in...

Conceptual drawings for Midnight Grove

The Tree Exhibition

Here is a better lit image of the piece i'm making for the tree exhibition. The front will be properly polished, the stag silhouette will be sandblasted and painted with the antlers more branchified (probably black) and the golden tree will be redone with finer detail. I was really making a mock up for a photo and substituting this piece of glass. Seeing it works so well I decided to use this piece of glass rather than the other I had been making specifically. 

I am still on the search for the origins of the 'tree-antlered deer'...

Here is my exhibition statement, thanks as always to my wonderful editor (or as a friend and I call him...my blurb master)

My work draws on narratives from folk, myth and fairy tales to explore themes of individual transformation and metamorphosis. I am especially interested in how contemporary re imaginings from literature and film effect the continuity, meaning and relevance of an individual story.

In every culture the tree has a symbolic role to play. In the realm of folk and fairytale, when the motif of forest or woods appears we can be sure that our hero (or our projected self) will be tested or challenged in some way. The liminal space of grove and glade are sites of personal introspection and growth.

The history of the majestic deer / tree spirit is unknown. It is a modern hybrid, integrating the metaphorical qualities and symbolism of both the deer and the tree. Versions of this quasi mythical creature - who grows tree branches, sometimes in bud or bloom in the place of antlers, appear frequently in pop culture: from film to fantasy fiction, from t-shirts to tattoos. The popular image of the 'tree-antlered deer' is an example of 'myth blending', the seamless merging of symbol and folklore with modern storytelling genres to give birth to new tales that evoke the timeless pull of antiquity.

Sharing artistic hurdles on twitter

I can't say how much these tweets lifted my mood, to share my current frustration with deer legs.

I admired and met illustrator Vesper Stamper through Pinterest. It was her folk and fairytale themed artwork and our shared history of being born in an army hospital that made me say "Hi" through her website. While I have plenty of glass colleagues in which to share the joys and frustrations of working with glass, sharing subject matter is less common. Thanks Vesper!

@Spikeabell I *know*! Actually, it's their front legs that stump me.
— Vesper Stamper Illo (@vesperstamper) February 1, 2014

@vesperstamper yes, the front legs are the worst. There are some clips on YouTube of deer walking, that are helpful
— Spike Deane (@Spikeabell) February 2, 2014

examples of annoying deer legs

The Tree exhibition project

Well what was the Dryad project has changed. After a day of drawing I came to the realisation that prancing tree spirits just weren't going to add to the work as a whole and it was time to change course.

I've started with another piece of glass and different imagery. I've decided to go with the 'Monarch of the glen' type deer with the antlers extended to branches. I'm curious as to how this image / trend started as I can't find references in mythology. I think maybe it's a blend of mythology and contemporary fantasy fiction...but I could be wrong.

 I'm learning how to use gold leaf, the attempt below is just to get an idea of how it looks with the glass. From this I think it will work well if I improve my technique.

trialling components on the kitchen bench, back lit

trialling components on the kitchen bench

example of the deer with tree branch antlers

Deer and their skinny legs

I'm trying to draw a deer silhouette for a project.  They have very skinny knobbly legs, that I just can't seem to get right...