I want to say “this was another fun week of play”….but maybe that diminishes the process. With hindsight it’s true, but I am writing these posts several weeks after the online workshop and group crit. In the lead up, I’m always pushing to try ‘one more idea’ and I never really know how they’ll land with our ensemble; so there was always that facet of nerves until after the session, followed by giddy relief. I’ve certainly gained a little confidence over the weeks, thanks to the kind support of Estela and the Handshakers.
Working with driftwood was a great discovery; a wonderful sensory experience of tactility, and scent. Time slipped away, like a meditation it was a peaceful place of focus. Initially, the idea was to drill a big hole in the wood, smooth it out and call it a ring. Ultimately I decided to try extending on the square-ish 2D to 3D ring from the previous metal ring exercise. It was reasonably successful. If I’d had thicker silver plate to-hand the shank would’ve been more comfortable to wear. It does function as an idea though… something to further explore at a later date perhaps.
I rather love the bold, sinuous, kind of globular, voluminous form that happened.
(Above) This was the paper/ wire lampshade from week one – I cut into it with great gusto, happy to make a new memory of it. That first week was so nervous. Set amidst overseas visitors, a new workshop and my 50th birthday celebrations – cor-blimey she was a bruiser;-)
Baked ‘Sculpey’ clay – first time user, it shows, but I learnt a lot. Another fun, free, form.
Loopy Rings made from soft wood, some charred, connected with steel pins.
This project really opened me up to the possibilities of working with different materials – also, in using found objects and making more quickly, without too much worry on ‘where is this going’ or, the cost of materials, it feels like the spontaneity is captured in the forms. Certainly, it was thought provoking.