Oil paint & newsprint

When I was adding the oil colour to the metal, I was interested in the paint left behind on the paper underneath. I thought this could also suggest movement. These are a few ideas I played around with, but it's something which could be developed.

Metal Animation

Whilst experimenting with the metal for the small Blessings project, I started to think that the pieces would work well in an animation. It would mean re cutting each movement, which would mean a lot of work, but I think it would work well.

Donkey and fish - detail

Donkey and monkey - detail

Monkey and donkey - interaction

Donkey - adding other elements with different materials such as chalk

Eagle - straight after cut

Eagle - after etching and oil colour

Tiger - added texture with tools and oil colour

Banging the metal with a copper hammer to distress

Sheet metal

I wanted to see if I could use the sheet metal to create something similar to the amulets which I had seen at The Pitt Rivers. Particularly the ones which were of people and animals.

Metal amulets - Pitt Rivers Museum, Oxford

The metal was easy to cut, using scissors. I used a copper hammer and a mini anvil to pound the metal. Not only did this flatten it but it also gave it a distressed, aged look and got rid of the severe scissor edge. I used different tools to etch, scratch and create patterns in the metal. Finally, I added oil paint with a sponge which gave the metal a burnished look and aged feel.

I made the following animal amulets and researched superstitions related to the animals:

Monkey
An amulet carried during exams or tests to allow the person the ability to think through complex problems.

Fish
Wise and knowledgeable. Given to a person by someone who as told them a secret and want them to be silenced.

Donkey
The hairs from a donkey's cross were cures for ailments. Worn in a charm around the neck to guard against whooping-cough,toothache, fits and to ease teething in babies; sometimes the hairs were eaten in a sandwich!

Crocodile
Crocodile blood cures eye problems and snakebites.

This technique was simple and I think it is something which would be good to try in the workshop at the museum.


Link to the Small Blessings blog  http://pittrivers-amulets.blogspot.co.uk/

Link to the Flickr page  http://www.flickr.com/photos/76253275@N03/sets/72157629496147470/

Photos to follow...

Casting

I now have 2 workable 2-part moulds,ready for experimenting with casting - an arm and a leg.

I would like to try casting in plaster, wax, resin, maybe even ice.

When the casts are finished I want to try putting them together with other materials including leather, textiles, beads, wire, metal, food stuff etc...
One member of the Pitt River's Mind group is working on a 'hunting votive'. He is currently making a pig 2-part mould and will then cast it. He wants to put an arrow head, leather thong and beaded fabric with this. This is similar to the object which he drew at the museum on the first session.
John, another member is creating Siligum moulds of some old medals/coins, ehich were his Grandads. He will then cast them in plaster of Paris. John has also made a start on a clay fox.
Adam, the Mind group carer is creating work based on owls. He has made a start on a clay owl which he is adding textures by using shells pressed into the clay. I suggested maybe using some other materials with his such as feathers, wire or fabrics. Maybe Adam could look at some other detailed parts of the owl, such as the talons, the feathers, beak, eyes and use these to inspire another piece of work.

1950's Scrapbooks

Page from scrapbook

I found these two, beautiful scrapbooks at the car-boot sale. They are full of images taken from a variety of sources, including; greetings cards, magazines and posters. They remind me of old decoupage images. The faded colours and imagery is very reminiscent of the time.

mould making, again

After failing with the first experiment with the Lego blocks, I decided to have another go and see if I have learnt from my mistakes.

• watch out for leaks 
• apply Vaseline to all areas - liberally!

This time I used an ice-cream box and the empty plaster tub. Using the wet clay made a real difference too, much easier to work with.

after the plaster and clay were released from the tub, the hand fits perfectly back into the hole

Whilst I was waiting for the plaster to go off, I had a play with the left over clay, and made this:

Magical lady cat

 She is full of wisdom, very lucky and fertile!

Objects of my affection

Categorising and ordering the objects

Drawings

The Foundling Hospital, London

The Hospital was founded by royal charter in 1739. It was established 'for the maintenance and education of exposed and deserted young children'. It admitted its first infants in 1741. Being reliant on private funding meant resources were tight which meant restricting admissions. To ensure fairness, the Hospital instituted a system of selection by ballot in 1742. Women who brought infants to the Hospital drew coloured balls from a bag. A white ball meant the child was admitted, subject to checks for age and infectious disease; a black ball meant rejection. Between 1749 and 1756 only 803 babies were accepted out of a 2, 808 brought to the hospital.

The number of children actually reclaimed by their mothers may have been tiny, but ensuring the mothers were able to take their children back was an important priority for the hospital. Each baby left was registered with a number, accompanied with information designed to assist future identification.
On the printed registration forms or billets, there were headings for entering the sex of the child, the clothes it was wearing on admission, and any special distinguishing marks on its body. In addition the Hospital encouraged the mothers to supply a token, which might be a note, a letter, or a small object, to be kept with the billet as an identifier.
Small objects were especially suitable when the mother concerned was illiterate. Such tokens may include:

• A padlock and key
• brooches
• rings
• buttons
• metal watch seals
• coral necklaces
• coins
• keys
• swatches of textiles (usually cut from from a sleeve, a ribbon, or a gown)

These tokens remain interleaved in billet books. They and the stories they tell about manufacturing, fashion, women's skills, childrearing and maternal emotion are at the heart of Threads of Feeling. (An exhibition hosted by The Foundling Museum, London).

These Hospital tokens remind me of some of the charms and amulets which I have been observing recently. I especially like the use of textiles, which is reminiscent of antique patchwork quilts. The ones patched together from old clothing and often having significant and sentimental meaning to the owners and families. Often, objects such as human hair, hair pins, handkerchiefs, newspapers and letters were trapped and hidden between the layers of fabrics.  An historical family gift which would be passed down through generations. Each patch with its own story to tell. 

Examples of old American Patchwork quilts

Breaking the mould

The time came to experiment and make. I have purchased so forth ingredients:

• clay
• lego bricks
• latex
• plaster of paris
• alginate
• siligel
• metal gauze
• metal sheeting
• bees wax

 I wanted to try a two part mould so I could cast a full object in the media of my choice. I collected an array of objects from around the house and my studio...

keys  shells  doll parts  amulets  animal objects  teeth bones  skull  wire  cogs  flowers  seed pods

      

Siligel self hardening putty

Pushing the key into clay and building a plasticine wall to hold the plaster

Doll leg in clay with Lego wall (lets the plaster through as not completely air tight)

embedding objects into clay and building a wall to hold the plaster

                            

  a shark's tooth

a foot, a key and a two part plaster mould

separating the mould

Alginate pour

broken doll leg cast

To be continued...