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Rockin' Jewelry => Metal Clay => Topic started by: Enchantra on January 31, 2016, 07:19:56 PM

Title: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on January 31, 2016, 07:19:56 PM
I posted this on FB as well and on Google+.

Title:  Ancient Mexico
Materials: Art clay silver, stabilized turquoise, Magnesite, Pebeo Porcelaine 150 paints, silver filled jump rings and wire, LillyPilly Mystic topaz copper patina sheets, and a heck of a lot of time.
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: hummingbirdstones on January 31, 2016, 08:28:40 PM
Wow, Amanda, that is amazingly complex!  There is some Aztec somewhere saying, "Hey!  Who stole my necklace!"   :angel9:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Neural on February 01, 2016, 05:52:38 AM
That is really beautiful!
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on February 01, 2016, 06:49:13 AM
Thanks!  :D
I'm just hoping the submission went through last night.  Not even five minutes after I submitted, the site went down, all I get is a blank white page for FMG!
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on February 22, 2016, 09:12:24 AM
This week this piece gets shipped out to FMG!  They want it for the next round of judging!   :icon_sunny: :icon_sunny:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: hummingbirdstones on February 23, 2016, 06:06:03 AM
Good luck!  You're on a roll, so I have no doubt you will win with this one, too!   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Kaljaia on February 23, 2016, 09:21:58 AM
It's such a visually stunning piece! Love the color palette, and it really does have an ancient feel. Like your other work, seems to carry its own story and history with it.
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: lithicbeads on February 23, 2016, 09:48:48 AM
Would you consider doing some tutorials  and process pictures here?
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: hummingbirdstones on February 23, 2016, 04:43:05 PM
Ooh, great idea!  Amanda - please consider!
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on February 23, 2016, 05:08:31 PM
The next time I do a metal clay piece I will work on a Tutorial. 

As far as the technique involved here, it was relatively simple.  If you own a large flat Rubber stamp like Cool Tools creates you are halfway there.   Oil with olive oil, then with a soft paintbrush apply silver clay paste in layers, allowing each layer to dry before applying another.  Build up to roughly 4-5 thick layers.  Here's the tricky part - getting that imprinted dried clay slip off the rubber stamp.  Even with a well oiled stamp it can still stick.  I discovered if I rub onto the back, a piece of clear packing tape it helps the piece stick together with minimal cracking as I peel the stamp gently away from the clay.  Once the piece is off the stamp I trim the edges of the tape to match the shape of the piece and I leave that tape in place - it fires off in the kiln.  If the piece has a few cracks I thin out some clay paste to the consistency of milk and gently apply it to the cracked areas and allow it to dry. 

Tips:  To create a worn look on the stamped pieces as if it had been in the ground for hundreds of years, I actually put air bubbles into the first layer of metal clay paste slip on purpose.  The resulting surface is pitted and dented, and even sometimes warped, once antiqued it looks like something that is a bit cleaned up after it has come out of the ground.

Fire the stamped piece tape side up in the kiln.  Firing it tape side down can cause to much heat under the clay as you fire the piece as the tape burns off and can actually start melting your clay!  So tape side up! 
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on May 13, 2016, 04:05:08 PM
Just found out I received GRAND PRIZE BRONZE for this piece!   :icon_sunny: :wav:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: James D. Farrow on May 13, 2016, 04:10:14 PM
Congrats!

Beautiful work!

James
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Steve on May 13, 2016, 04:33:09 PM
WOW.........Your pieces have always amazed me....................... :headbang:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: wampidy on May 13, 2016, 05:00:10 PM
Hah, I could do that. Do you have three or four hundred hours to help me? hahaha

You never cease to amaze me with your art pieces. Congrats on your win.

I need to go through my cabs and pick out some that you may be able to use. What are we up to now, about $3? Got to get this up to 6 or 9 so I will be in the big bucks. Maybe even 12 bucks, so I can travel the world again.

I just sent a link to my son because he has switched (like I do) to doing some clay things and I want him to see this. He is a great carver but doesn't know the different types of clay so he has a learning curve to go through. From the looks of your piece it could be a long curve but he masters just about anything he puts his hands on.
Jim
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on May 13, 2016, 06:59:40 PM
Hah, I could do that. Do you have three or four hundred hours to help me? hahaha

You never cease to amaze me with your art pieces. Congrats on your win.

I need to go through my cabs and pick out some that you may be able to use. What are we up to now, about $3? Got to get this up to 6 or 9 so I will be in the big bucks. Maybe even 12 bucks, so I can travel the world again.

I just sent a link to my son because he has switched (like I do) to doing some clay things and I want him to see this. He is a great carver but doesn't know the different types of clay so he has a learning curve to go through. From the looks of your piece it could be a long curve but he masters just about anything he puts his hands on.
Jim

Jim,
I don't have a few hundred hours to show you how to do it..
However I do have a place to park an RV.  I already have my friend Mia Benson camping out with her RV in my side yard for Quartzite and Tucson next year.  I have plenty of room for another RV.  The coffee is hot, and I can cook a decent meal if I have the time and energy to do so.   :occasion14:
Title: Re: 2016 Metals entry
Post by: Enchantra on May 13, 2016, 07:01:22 PM
WOW.........Your pieces have always amazed me....................... :headbang:

Steve, I am taking that as a HUGE compliment, because I have always admired your intricate and detailed silver work.   :thumbsup: :icon_sunny:
Thank you.  I'm blushing!