Workshop recap!
Hi! Hello! How are you?
Just finished up my first workshop - where I learned about the art of lost wax casting, in a really beautiful spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Two weeks is nowhere near enough time to explore this 7000 year old process, but it was enough time to learn the basics, get me inspired, and super excited about this whole new medium for jewerly making.
View of the metals studio (front and back) where I worked everyday for 2 weeks - it was such a sweet spot! I spent some time sitting on that porch eating dinner, having coffee and sketching ideas.
My lovely teacher Mary Hallam Pearse, taught us a semester's worth of techniques in the span of 11 days, which felt like trying to learn a new language. She humorously referred to it as "trying to take a drink from a fire hose" and I would say that was accurate.
Ultimately it was super exciting, and at times overwhelming haha.
We leaned how to carve wax into signet rings, use different types of casting methods, making of all kinds of molds, making multiples, natural casting methods and casting stones in place.
I'm used to knowing what to do when it comes to my creative approach, so I was definitely humbled when it came time to learn these new processes. Among exciting moments of inspiration, I also spent time feeling lost, making tons of mistakes/ugly things and feeling unsure whether I had made the right choice in trying a new medium. (not going to lie I felt like if I didn't get it I was letting everyone who is rooting for me - down!!) Ack!! Self doubt is just part of the process I think!
But then I had to remember : this is why I wanted to learn, to think of things in a different way, and be inspired. Which is what I came away with after this experience! What a roller coaster! I did make some things that I really liked, and I will continue to expand on those ideas, to one day hopefully share with you!
(above : 1.signet ring carved from wax ready to be cast in metal (this was one of my favourite things to learn! I can definitely see doing more of this ) 2. wax ring cast in bronze, 3.rubber mold and wax model, 4. wax vessels and natural materials ready to be cast ( this form is called a tree. the "branches" you see create the channels for molten metal to flow), 5. after casting before each piece is removed from the tree to be finished, 6.final forms in bronze ( which I am super excited about, and cant wait to develop further)
Torching the crucible for centrifugal casting - this process is exciting! It was pretty fun to use this gigantic torch!!
After heating up the crucible with a big torch, metal grain is added as well as the flask (the mold with the shape you are casting)
After being released,the whole arm inside spins around super fast - centrifugal force pressures the molten metal inside the mold. Woop!
Above - silver + bronze grain ready to be cast
A few more pieces I'm excited about and want to explore a bit further. Beans!
If I continued on with this idea, would you be into a bean pendant? Lemme know!
All in all, I am so incredibly thankful + lucky to have had this experience. Taking the leap to try was scary but I am so glad I did.
Learning about these new techniques has done what I was hoping for! Things have opened up in my mind. I have so many ideas for pieces to share with you sweet folks and where I can take this newfound knowledge - my mind is whirling!! I am so dang excited to get back to my workbench and dive right in. It's going to be good!! It is also going to take some time, as good things often do. Each step of the way, I'll share whats developing right here with you.
But - before I'm back at my bench, I'll be taking a road trip to see some sights. This sabbatical is about gathering inspiration from both concrete and abstract places. Ill be sharing bits and pieces of that with you here as well!
I hope you are finding some joy and inspiration for yourself this summer! I appreciate your interest so much + that you choose to follow along here.
Til next time pals!
<3
Rikki
(she/her)
