Deconstruction

Using the photographs for more than their colours 

while researching other artists that have similar objectves as me, I found a  jeweller by the name of Marian Hosking, Her subject matter is the flora of Australia and in many pieces has used images or silhouettes of plants. instead of using the image as is, she layers images, deconstructs and reassembles images in order to create a new image all together. With this in mind, i wanted to use the photographs that i have been taking and use them not only for their colours but also for their potential to create interesting shapes.

Above is the original image. I took this image and made it black and which a swapped negative and positive.

This is the result. The aim was to them pierce out sections of this image and enamel the positive areas. 

These are some of the test pieces and cut outs. i am in the process of manufacturing a statement neck piece that will be claw set with silver. 

Enamel half tubes

Enameling on something different

I have found that when i get bored of something, its best for me to try something new or try a new technique to get out of a rut. I felt as though i was in a rut when it came to enameling flat pieces of copper so decided to see if enameling on tubes or half tubes would work. 

One of the challenges with the half tubes was how I would attach them to a piece of jewellery and found the easiest and most effective way was to drill a hole through which I'd thread them on to a wire. Above are two of my first test pieces. 

This pendant was the end result. I love this piece and will definitely revisit this direction. It also allowed me to practice firing pieces that weren't flat which a tad more tricky as the enamel often doesn't stick well to all sides. I also like how some of the metal is still exposed, allows for a very organic look which is contrasted by the polish and simple/geometric frame on which they hang. 

Colour in Hoops

Enamel elements incorporated in a hoop 

For this pair of earrings I wanted to add an enameled element. Furthermore I wanted to add movement. I think these are somewhat successful but feel that the proportions are a bit off. Thinner wire for the frame would allow the enamel element to be more of a focal point. I think that the wore over powers the enamel at the moment. 

Kiln Fired

Enamel testing 

Up until now, I had been using my bench torch to fire my enamel pieces and i wasn't getting a constant look. This week I started firing my enamels in the kiln and I am really excited with the results. I found that there was more room to play around with different colour and colour combinations because it more controlled. Here are some of my test pieces. 

Hoops

Hoop two

These earrings are a prototype for a range of earrings I am designing/ working on. They are a little more bold than the previous hoops. In the future the copper element will be an enameled element. 

Sterling silver hoop earring with copper detail 

Hoops!

Exploring the hoop 

While designing for anglo plat, I started designing hoops and I want to carry on exploring this style of earrings. there is so much room for experimentation. 

These are a variation of my AngloPlat earrings

Sterling silver hoops with a textured detail 

Sterling silver hoops with a textured detail

Enamel Pin

Enamel Pin

I decided to make a simple enamel pin that was riveted to create some movement. It wasn't as successful as Id have liked it to be and I need too work on my riveting skills. I do like its overall look and I think that it could be a starting point for other pieces. 

Colour inspiration

Sterling silver and enameled copper pin

Anglo Plat designing

Anglo Platinum Earring Designs 

The theme for this years anglo plat competition is Bold minimalism. 

I have decided to make statement earrings which use simple minimalist lines combined with contrasting textured metal. 

Here are some process photos.

Using paper to visualise where the textured plate is going and how I'm going to attach it.

colours!

Some morning colour inspiration

The mornings are when I exercise. I have to stop myself from taking pictures every 5 minutes because the colours are simply breathtaking. Here are two pictures I took on my morning runs at the beach. 

Yellow?

Testing Yellows 

Looking at the pictures from Krantzkloof, I wanted to try recreate the yellow colours from the yellow flowers I observed there. My test pieces (while I like the result of a few of them) weren't exactly yellow. More playing will be done. 

It might be that the yellow enamels work better on silver instead of copper.

Colours I was trying to achieve

 Test  pieces: 

Krantzkloof Colours

Krantzkloof Colours 

Here are Some Pictures taken at Kranzkloof Nature Reserve in Kloof. I found these colour combinations really interesting. 

Enamel Testing- Sasol New Signatures

Enamel Test Pieces

I have decided to enter the Sasol New Signatures Art competition. For this piece I want to make a “painting” made up of small pieces of enamelled copper.  These are some of my first test pieces. For the purpose of my initial “playing” I have focused, or tried to, on the colours in the following picture:

I think that by doing this completion, and by doing all these little pieces, I will be able to learn and understand enamels and the colours/ textures that im wanting to achieve in my jewellery.

Colours on my street

Bubble Gum Colours 

Just some sunset colour inspiration.

Colours on my Street

The littlest flowers 

Spotted these little flowers on my way home from the shop today. Orange seems to be a colour that i keep getting drawn to. Honestly its one of the colours I'd normally steer away from but since taking note of the colours around me in nature and by the ocean, it keeps popping out as one of the ones that i think are most effective. 

water colour colour colour playing

Colours 

Some water colour paintings and line drawings. Trying understand the colours I want to work with. Im battling to get the colours the same as im observing them. 

Natures Bangle

Natures Bangle 

I made this Pieces as i was starting to feel stuck with the enamels, so i thought id do a quick project to get into the swing of things again.

I melted a piece of copper directly onto my soldering board and it created a very rough look, like a little rock. i then added some green, mossy looking enamel. 

The end result looks like a little mossy stone on a crisp polished silver band. 

New Colours

New Colours 

I have started working with a new colour combination using the following photograph as inspiration:

These are the test pieces I have done so far. I'm not ecstatic about them.  

First Piece

First Piece 

I chose the test piece that I think was most effective and made this ring with it. I want to make a range of these rings drawing inspiration from the colour combinations in nature. I want the focal point to be the enamel so I have chosen to make the ring itself quite simple. I like the clean lines of the silver as a contrast to the organic feel of the enamel.

More Enamel Testing

More Enamel Testing

I did some more test pieces but this time on domes. I was focusing on the colours from a picture that I fell in love with. I really like how the colours were turning out and have found that not cleaning the piece each time has contributed to the effect that I am trying to achieve.

Lichen on the rocks and a mossy green plant.

Some test pieces and notes

Playing with Enamels

Playing with Enamels 

These are some of the test pieces I have done so far. I was just finding my feet as i havent done enamels in a while. There are so many variables that its difficult to know (well for me at this point) whats really going on. But I like some of the results and I feel like going forward with it will be fun and that I'll get my desired look with some practice (and maybe a bit of luck).