Lots of things have happened in the past 12 months and lots of things where learned through the help of so many.
So let me begin the start of this new tread by saying thank you to all the contributions that where made by so many members here. I could not have come this far with this hobby without your constant support and encouragement.
For me, the year started off by trying to get the jump from simple lines into a bit more detailed objects. The "Honeycomb" set the style and path for the year.
Finally, this year we got ready for some collaborations: The one finished in February (?) was with Amanda. Who lend her gifted hands to my Polkadot Koy. Resulting into an immense piece that will suit very well as a poster-child, should I ever go out and try to exhibit or sell.
Two more collaborations are on their way, one where I know already that it will result into an absolutely fantastic piece with our superbly gifted Steve, and its finish is only hindered by the really slow snail-mail right now. And another piece in collaboration will literally result into a "Poster". A graphic artist from Poland, whom I met on another forum has asked to use the picture of one of my Fire Agates recently, to be used for a project of his. Apperantly he will use the Fire Agate as base-image, and then creates a world around it digitally. Will take awhile, but I'm really looking forward as to what he is up to. saved11
In the mean-time, lots of subjects came along, but animal-themes certainly prevailed throughout
Human form and faces is something that I need to practice a lot
No matter if it is in form of guitars or otherwise. Looking back, something else crystallized out this year. It looks like I have a penchant for combining things (the guitar started it), and really like the results, even though the "Girl"and the "Owl" turned out too heavy to wear.
The Disdero, while I cursed the size at first, went on to become one of the best practice sessions for smaller pieces and due to my luck of having Helen send me just the right material for backing, resulted in some of the best visual appeals this year.
Cabs where not a priority this year, and from the ones that I did make I like those the best.
But lastly, I would like to list my favorite of them all; "Save" . So while a Fire Agate is in my Avatar, the carving representing my Journey for 2012 should be the Sleeping Angel.
Here a link to all the pics individually in one place:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/sets/72157632327947278/Kurt, just think, five hundred years form now you work will be highly sought after by collectors as a fine example of the stone carver art. This stuff is so good yippie24
Thank you everyone, but looking at artists coming out of Russia these days, I doubt that my ability thus far would count for anything more than mere trinkets.
so lets get practicing to catch up to some measurement. saved12
First off this year is something that I reworked this past week. Was happy with it before, but now that I have been able to learn more about polishing, it looks that much better.
And first out the gate for this year (joined the forum early December, so that's how I count it chuckle02 ), is something that Allen brought with him as he came to Hong Kong.
Its presumably Chert, and has hematite throughout, so what originally looked like a red and black mixture is now mostly red with a silvery sheen.
Did not manage a "Mirror" finish even on the rounded back, but looks like glazed porcelain.
Here is a mock-up of how I think this should be worn. I like the color contrast, but the weight of 104ct ( 68 x 29mm) for the bead is a bit a worry in order to keep the balance.
Since I have been into them for a few weeks now, I have decided to continue working on a rather special piece that I was able to get a few years ago. So far it looks good and I hope to show you some pictures by the weekend that should bring tears to even hardened "opal-collectors".
In the meantime; got those two finished up (pics taken before 50K Diamond-paste):
And, my little light of the day. It's down to the last two sheets of color, so for a change, the back is all done too. (I usually have the habit of not forming the back until I know what I want to do with them).
One more before posting some fireworks for the end of the year tomorrow. Got the pictures already, but want to wait and see if I can get some shots outdoors tomorrow.
In the meantime here is one more:
And here a link to all the best of December 2012 in one place.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bchallenge/sets/72157632262060035/Time-consuming, they certainly are, but.......... once in a while,..... you get something really special.
Have no real use for them, yet I know, I will continue to chase material that promises to be better. Eye-balling the next one already.
So after starting with the Fire Agate section 2 years ago, I knew what I wanted to do with it as the shape lends itself very clearly for it.
What stopped me from executing it at the time was no knowledge of carving at all and the need for (Ohhh horror of it all) a face.
Last week, I finally brought myself to get started by saying to myself that a mask would do just fine. I still got some fragments left over from a Turkish Dendrite Opal and started out on a pure white section in order to give it max contrast to the Fire Agate.
Started with the eyes and then went south. Gave it a more rounded face on the left in order to follow the shape of the FA and the plan to set it at an angle looking to the right.
As it turns out my guesses where far from reality and at a final size of 10.5 mm its far to big to fit into the hollow space of the FA. Will have to reshape and use it for something else in the future.
So, I put that one aside and started on the FA itself on Monday. Somehow picking up another piece of opal; but this time slightly blue. First mistake was to allow a dendrite within the face. It turns out darker than expected, yet gives another dimension to the face.
Started this time with raising nose-tip and cheeks. So bottom up. Went very quick and had a reasonable face in no time.
Here are the pics along the way up until today at 7mm. For fitting, I will have to shave off another mm, that should run to exactly a quarter of an inch.
As the FA is not yet ready (sanding polish certain parts drives me nuts), and we don't have the answer to the guessing game yet, we will need to wait till the weekend for that. chuckle02
OK, i think I got pictures as best as I can get, so its time to move this project to a close here.
That's how it started and where the back/color side ended up
Rough monk
Trying for days, just to get one picture with stone and mirror-face "in-focus", but to no avail
Mirror play 1
Mirror play 2
Best shot: I found those mushrooms on the tree-stump that I'm using quite often as background. Did some angled shots with surprising results and like the "landscape"effect. Might be crowded for some viewers, but personally, I think it makes it easier to create meaning to the carving.
Like the angle, but color is somehow off, with the sun coming on too strong.
Consider this now the best for the time being
So now as I got the pictures, I can finally drill the hole from top to affix a bail and then combine everything permanently.
The next project is a bit more complicated because of the many parts involved.
Now out of this mess, I chose 3 Fire Agates and cut wings from the Green Moss Agates
As usual, I managed to break two wings as they needed to be ground and filed down to less than a mm. The moss is great, but get it just a bit wrong and the moss will de-fragment.
Still not done yet, the wings need more of a makeover to remove the last problem-areas.
Now I'm stuck! I tried to set it into a stone-background these past few days, but it always turns out too heavy to wear. So now I need to find someone who can do the metalwork. I'm thinking of an invisible bottom-plate and attached to it 4 sleeves for the wings. So only the sleves will be visible (metal) from the top.
Size: the 3 Fire Agates add up to 55 x 12 mm at widest and longest points. The whole composition is right now 55 x 80mm and I suppose the metal will add another 2 to 4 mm to the with.
Best regards, Kurt
