|
|
|
Metal Clay Category
|
Moments
Artist: Linda Stiles Smith (Dayton, OH)
First Place, Metal Clay
"I have been working in metal clay for four years and selling my work at summer shows. In the winter, I get to "play" with new designs and ideas. I had purchased this cabochon over six months ago with no idea how I would use it. I also wanted to try using some gold in my work. Drawings and ideas came together in my sketchbook over several months. I recently discovered that I have pine-tree allergies, so I thought the best way to enjoy them was to have them on a pendant that didn't make me sneeze!
"I created a mold from my original stamp and pressed my clay (rolled to three cards) into it. It was rough around the edges, but that seemed to be okay. I further defined the trees and shapes by carving into the bone-dry piece. Then the "how" of making the rest of this piece was discovered as I worked. The bezel for the stone needed to be set into thicker clay than what I used for the tree shapes, but it was already pretty big, and would be very heavy if I used another solid slab of clay. I decided that a thick coil of clay might do the trick. I was right. I was able to set the bezel wire into the coil, as a separate piece, then attach it to the tree piece by merging the rock design into the front and using a leaf pattern on the back.
"This was a pretty large piece and needed a decent sized bail to hold it, but not an obvious one, and I still wanted to use some gold. I came up with the idea of a tube bail that was formed separately and attached with paste in the center of the top. The domed shape that sits on top hides the bail and complements the design. I added gold paste and torch fired and burnished it to a high shine. To me, it's the sun glowing over the pine forest with the deep green moss [covered] rocks underfoot. Peaceful, and just the place I long to be! On the reverse of the piece, I added how I feel about this piece ... The words and leaves were stamped, cut out and attached with paste to give them a relief which complements the three-dimensionality of the other components. The whole has been given a selective patina with liver of sulfer and a brush, the trees and words hand-burshined to a high shine, and the finished piece is worn from a rigid neck collar." — Linda Stiles Smith
View more 2006 First Place winners. Or, check for details about our most recent contest!
|
|
Our Products
