Blog

I was back in my Color on Metal class at Lillstreet today. The light wasn’t great so the photos don’t do the colors justice. Our instructor demonstrated using colored pencils with liver of sulfur or turpentine wash, guilders paste, and alcohol inks. She showed us some samples using acrylic paints too. This first grouping of… Continue reading Color on Metal #3 – Part 1

Well it turns out that forging is way harder than forming for me - who knew? Though I am so new to all this, take my perspective with a grain of salt! 😂 The featured picture is my first sloppy attempt at a forged bracelet. These are some of the teacher’s samples: If you look… Continue reading Metal Forming #2

I learned about sand blasting and powder-coating today! It was the second session of my Color on Metal class at Lillstreet Art Center. Powder-coating looks like paint; you might recognize it from cars, home appliances, etc.. Apparently, it’s actually a type of resin, or plastic. You conduct a little electricity through the piece, spray it,… Continue reading Color on Metal #2

At the beginning of our second class we had a look at people’s work from last week. Some left theirs at the studio, and I brought in experiments from home. Here are the instructor’s rings - cool variety of colors! These are from another student. The dark blue is really amazing! And the chunky salt… Continue reading Color on Metal #1 – Part 2

I am smitten! Both with the outcomes and with this technique. I had a crazy moment a few weeks ago when I was feeling great health-wise, and in that moment, I signed up for two classes at Lillstreet this session. Not my smartest move (it’s only been one week and I’m already tired). BUT, I… Continue reading Metal Forming #1, Part 2

In my metal forming class on Tuesday night this week, Darlys shows us the basics of forming and planishing. These first four pictures show her shaping a 3 inch copper disc into a bowl shape. She used dapping sets and a mushroom stake to create the bowl-shaped curve. The metal is worked, and then annealed… Continue reading Metal Forming #1, Part 1

Here are some of the samples from my Color on Metal class last Saturday. The first photo (featured image) is copper with a stamp on it; a slow, gentle heating turns the metal purple. You can also achieve wonderful yellows and oranges, like the instructor samples below: But Saturday we mostly focused on blues and… Continue reading Color on Metal #1 – Part 1

For the first time since before the pandemic, this weekend I traveled into Chicago to take a class at Lillstreet Art Center. It was great to be back in this creative, welcoming community art center! 💕 I am taking two classes, but the one on Saturdays is a quick four-week class called Color on Metal.… Continue reading Return to Lillstreet

I’ve been enjoying the slow unfolding of this project - I hope you have too. ❤️ The settings and hollow forms are now complete. The next step will be to connect them together!