SBC IX – 3 Players, Three Different Bowls

First, let’s check out the other two Super Bowls that were made in this year’s challenge.

First this libation cup by Lew Shieber. I love that he says about the project this piece is a part of “from a culture that doesn’t exist in our history, but might have in an alternate time.” That is totally how I think of my work!

part of the Elsewhen Antiquities project ©2017 Lew Scheiber 2 7/8
part of the Elsewhen Antiquities project ©2017 Lew Shieber 2 7/8″ x 3 5/8″ x 5 5/8″ across the handles. 16 gauge brass, raised, chased, etched, and fabricated

Next is a video of Laurie Jane Kern’s wonderful patinated thick, thick, thick copper bowl. I love the music, hehe.

Here’s an image of the finished bowl

Super Bowl IX ©2017 Laurie Jane Kern 6
Super Bowl IX ©2017 Laurie Jane Kern 6″ square copper sunk and heat patinated
SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted
SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

Now onto my entry!

This year I decided to try and do a simpler bowl. Not the biggest thing I’ve ever done (like last year) not the one with the most parts or the most rivets. Simple and easy with a few subtle bits to break up the larger whole.

Well that kind of worked. The bowl was the size that I wanted, but it morphed away from my original simpler design to become what it was meant to be. This one it probably the least bowl-y of all my bowls, but it does still have that concave resting place in the middle of it.

SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted
SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

The original design was somewhat yin-yangish, but I ended up rotating the placement of the two larger pieces making the whole design more dynamic. The u-shapes help reign it in a bit drawing the eye back into the bowl and the base (as always) was a bit of a struggle to figure out but ended up complementing the bowl.

Now if I can just figure out a name…

SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted
SBC 9 ©2017 WTEK brass, nickel foldformed, pierced, formed, & riveted

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Chasing Textures

It feels like forever ago that I wrote the tutorial about chasing over air here on Hammermarks. (Looks like it was actually 4 1/2 years ago…) So do I still use this technique? Do I have work utilizing it that you can buy? Why, Yes, Yes, & Yes!

Trophy of Kaat Lir ©2015 nickel, brass 12"h x 8"w x 5.75"d $1130.00
Trophy of Kaat Lir ©2015 nickel, brass 12″h x 8″w x 5.75″d $1130.00

I’ve used this technique for a number of pieces’ overall texture which I then cut-up and reassemble, like:

Scabrous Bllom ©2015 nickel, brass 8.5″h x 6″w x 6.25″d $715.00 available through JAM Gallery in Malvern, PA

or these two available through my website:

Downrush ©2014 nickel, brass, wood 12″h x 8″w x 2″d $1030.00
Maelstrom ©2013 copper, brass
Maelstrom ©2013 copper, brass 4.75″h x 6″w x 6.5″d $2015.00

Perhaps you’d prefer jewelry…

JAM jewelry
These pieces are available at the JAM Gallery in Malvern, PA’s Winter Exhibition.
These pieces are at Handmade Holidays 6 at Some Things Looming in Reading, PA
These pieces are at Handmade Holidays 6 at Some Things Looming in Reading, PA

So as you can see, chasing over air has been a technique that’s served me well.

A Whirlwind of Activity!

One of the brass pieces all folded up and textured ©2015 WTEK
One of the brass pieces all folded up and textured ©2015 WTEK

I finished the metal portion of my YBC Challenge piece, but I wanted to make a new piece for the JAM Fall Exhibition that is fast approaching, so I’ve been in a flurry of activity in the studio trying to get this piece started and finished. I’m making the other design I came up with while working on the Rose Bowl.

First I textured all of the metal – 2 12×12″ 22g sheets of red brass and a 6×13.5″ piece of 22g copper. I wanted to show you the craziness that is trying to open the folds. Look at that consternation on my face.

Grrrr! ©2015 WTEK
Grrrr! ©2015 WTEK

I cut out the base and bowl portions and then six “leaves” to go around the outer edges. I’ve already decided that this is some form of Autumn, leafy, whirlwind kind of bowl. Hmmm, seems perfect for a Fall Exhibition, huh?

To keep it interesting, I’ve decided to cut some “net” portions out of each of the layers. I really like these little details. Plus I added the little detail on the bottom like I did to the Rose Bowl to get them to fit together. All I have to do now is fit the leaves, drill the holes, rivet them together and then finish the whole bowl. Did I mention I have about a day and a half to do this AND take photos of it?

Texturlicious copper all unfolded ©2015 WTEK
Texturlicious copper all unfolded ©2015 WTEK
All the pieces cut out ©2015 WTEK
All the pieces cut out ©2015 WTEK
The bowl and base formed and the net cut-out of two pieces ©2015 WTEK
The bowl and base formed and the net cut-out of two pieces ©2015 WTEK
Bowl and base joined! ©2015 WTEK
Bowl and base joined! ©2015 WTEK
That cute little bottom detail ©2015 WTEK
That cute little bottom detail ©2015 WTEK