Mid-stride is a good word for this post. At least it's shorter than S. Lessard's word 'mid-metamorphosis.' I'm deep in the middle of transitioning from the design stage -- which at this point has only one major decision to go -- to the execution stage, where everything is actually built.
Yesterday (Friday April 17) this pic was posted on my FB:
It showed considerable progress since the last time we'd seen this breastcollar. Yet in fact only 2 steps have happened, the addition of the gold border spots and the third silver flame piece. It's at this point you can grasp what the whole breastcollar will look like. Here's another version of the above, giving a little more contrast between paper and silver (for the 4th flame), and showing the fifth flame piece, lying above the near shoulder.
Both of the above pix were taken before the surface grain-removal process. Below is a shot that shows that: the leather beneath appears lighter after its grain has been cut away. This shot also shows the first glimpse of the drops. Yes, I chose to pursue drops, even though it might seem like gilding the lily. My reasoning is that, once again, they enhance the fact this is a parade saddle rather than a fantasy costume.
The shot also shows all the tools! from the micro-ball engraver's vise's round plastic base in the upper left, to the graver blade right next to it (looks like pure white metal), to the 3 files, the scissors, the edge-slicker and the dull awl. Hiding under the files in the upper right is the honing stone, which I was using to (try to) sharpen the gravers. Alas, this is a difficult and on-going process.
This quick little snap shows the paper pattern for the drops as well as a closer view of flame pieces four and five, counting from the left, and their 'beds' or grain-cut-off pockets.
Our last shot shows the drops well on their way. Why am I not put off by the contrast (one might almost say clash) between the quick cheap ikandi iron-ons and the extraordinary high-class, jewelry-grade materials like Argentium, garnet and citrines? Because this is who I am. These beautiful TSII parade saddles perfectly reflect my balancing on sword-edges like this all the time. Power and beauty is in that hybridization. This is why I love model tack as an artistic field: There is so much to draw from, and you get to use what best supplies the look you want.
I am saving the gemstone setting for later.
Note from the future: I found my czs [cubic zirconias]!! Their little box had fallen into my bottles and jars and hidden under the honing oil. How ironic that now that I have lots of them, I don't think the diamond color is needed for the design,...
On another subject: I mentioned 'one major design decision' still to go. It is that of fastening the flame pieces firmly down. My experiments are succeeding, my ideas are working. Nails (pins) made from ikandis can do the job. But my tiny drill bits are not behaving (not staying in their vise) and I need to solve that engineering problem. It's a story for another post.
No comments:
Post a Comment