I have been making some moves with my enamel work lately.  These pieces are just experiments but I am open to actually using them in a piece or two.  I am frantically putting together work for a million things. These pieces will be exhibited at SNAG for the Smitten Forum 2 Exhibition. 

I took this opportunity to do a little step by step thing for my enameling class this semester.  The video at the end that shows the little flecks of copper that have been revealed from the diamond file.  I am digging the format.  I am going to have to do some stress tests to make sure it doesn't crack and of course I have to fabricate all the frames. So far the best part is making them!   

 

Step one:  I started with 30 gauge copper.  I used a center punch to pierce the surface.  A lot. 

Step Two:  Using plate shears I cut out a box form and folded it up with my brass jawed pliers. 

Step Three:  Using A-4 I painted the entire piece.  Make sure you get every nook and cranny. 

Step Four:  I basically dumped enamel all over the piece and shook off the excess.  I fired the piece to 1475 F.  It was a super thin coat.  I didn't want it to burn before I could get the next coat on.  I repeated the paint and coating and firing.  Be careful to to burn your thin enamel shell! 

Step Five:  Once I had a decent coating on the surface (no copper showing.  Almost a solid color) I used my diamond file and filed down the surface.  This revealed small circles left by the punch.  After I filed down the surface sufficiently I dried off the piece on the door to the kiln. 

Step Six:  Once dry, I re-fired it.  I actually over fired it. I brought it up to 1524-ish for about three minutes.  This over-fired the enamel and wherever the copper was revealed it left a really nice black edge. 

I tried this a couple of different ways.  I used a dapping punch to make the white block (featured in the video) and a whitney punch (Which I will demo in class) for the orange block. 

BFA SHOWS

The first round of BFA shows went up today.  I have two students in the first round and one in the second round.  http://art.appstate.edu/cjs/events.htm

The M3D printer is here

So a while back (almost two years ago not) I supported a kickstarter campaign for a $200.00 FDM mico 3D printer.  I just got it in the mail today and so far.....I am not impressed.  

First, the box was thoroughly trounced/dented/squashed.  After I opened it I realized it didn't matter.  It was packed well.  Almost too well.  I think that whoever owns this company must have stock in packing tape because it had at least one entire roll of tape all over it.  So yeah, packed well but I would say WAY WAY OVERKILL ON THE TAPE.  I spent a lot of time scrapping tape off the thing just to get it un-boxed and ready to go.  When I opened the box, the only "instructions" that came with it, was a strip of paper with a URL to an "unofficial" youtube un-boxing video.  I was not shocked to find that the URL didn't work.

Moving on. 

Above the URL it says: "Remove all 3D printed parts, tape, bubble wrap and foam" Check! Next, is says "USB and power adapter are bundled inside.  Connect. Click. Print!"  

Uhhhhh....... no power cord?  It says it is supposed to be in the box.  It is not. 

So yeah, super excited and not super frustrated. 

Just a big green paperweight on my desk.  Not sure if it works or doesn't work. 

I guess I will have to wait another two weeks or so to get a power cord.  

Currently, I am not impressed.  

More things

I haven't been in the studio lately, which basically makes me grumpy.  I am on the tail end of an epic couple of months and I actually decided to take a short break.

Life has been insane and I was driving myself nuts.  Too many things going on inside my head and I was long over due for a vacation.  So we took one!  Liz and I went to Florida!  It was nice to visit with family and sit and clear my mind a bit. I had not been to the beach in years.  The sun put me in a better mood but I couldn't help think about all the time I could have spent in the studio.

I am not going to lie, it has been insane.  Before florida, I flew to RISD to do a lecture, then had my dad's memorial service in Virginia, then drove down to South Carolina (I juried an exhibition, gave a lecture and taught a workshop) then I went back to Boone to pick things back up after spring break.  I am looking forward to the summer.  Of course there is SNAG, a family reunion and teaching a workshop at Arrowmont.

So here a few quick things.  First, I have been working with a student in the tech department, researching modular jewelry and I have been "playing" with a few new designs. Second, some great photos of the Emergence, exhibition at Winthrop, University. Big thanks at Anne Fiala. Third, some great sunny photos from our vacation. Lastly, a few epic snow photos from Providence.