After cleaning up the clamp with hammering (which is very painstaking work anyway), I checked the billet after pickling, and I could see there was fused part, non fused part, and suspicious part. So I flowed solder on suspicious and non fused part. Next, I tried annealing and rolling down process. However, something came out from the … Continue reading
The second try for fusing is the combination of sterling silver and gilding metal. I prepared 6sheets of 1mm sterling silver and 5sheets of 1mm gilding metal and… set them between the clamp covering with flux as usual. Now, for me, this time is harder than the last time, because it needs lower temperature, and … Continue reading
After the success in fusing process, I tried to make patterned wire by twisting. After twisting a long thin plate, I shaped it into a piece of block first, and rolled it down. After sanding it, the colour of gilding metal can be visible! So, I made two rods after making a block shape, but … Continue reading
Poutuguese Merchants and Trading Vessels/ Early 17th century/ Namban paper screen Gold cloud is probably not familiar to neither Western nor Eastern people unless they are Japanese. Gold cloud appears in ancient paintings of Japan which sometimes depicts people’s life, a plan of capital city, or a landscape. Apparently, painting gold cloud is one of the painting … Continue reading
These are very impressive words from the book “Savage Beauty -Alexander McQueen”. As soon as I saw the words, I was assured that those words would be crucial to me to make sure what my theme is again and again… I put them into my ‘Inspirational works, things’ page so that you can read them in big image.
As I mentioned before, I tryed fusing using an electric kiln yesterday. Because it was the first try with an electric kiln and, each book shows different setting temperature and operation time, this challenge was really TRY. I tryed fusing with 9layers of copper and gilding metal. About this condition, one book says that it shoud be set … Continue reading
What I made has a half filed surface, so it reflects the light and shows muddy iridescence. The reflection contrasts well with patterns and we can feel rustic smoothness when we touch it, whereas the edge is ragged and harsh to the touch. What I am sad about is that we cannot see how … Continue reading
I have been practicing making Mokume gane both using solders and fusing technique. I have found out some points about the properties of Mokume gane which will be summarised below. Because many efforts ended in failure, well prepared plates for soldering is essential. Once I failed making a laminated billet, it would be a block … Continue reading
Here is continuation to the result of interviewing (How people feel when they look at (my)Mokume gane) Lake Wai-O-Tapu/ Hot springs: 2 Paua Volcanic craters Oil in water: 3 Maori Tiki: 2 Rain drops: 2 Eyes of frogs Bacteria multiplying Stars at fuzzy night Something like Japanese Bubbles from boiled water Paint … Continue reading
As I posted about Mokume gane before (title; Mokume gane), I have been practicing Mokume gane at my studio. Experiencing and experimenting in Mokume gane is significant but at the same time, I believe that I need to know how people in New Zealand perceive Mokume gane as well. Because of the fact that Mokume gane does not … Continue reading
