Rambling brain

 Hah! so much for writing more, it's been about a month.

But, this morning's walk filled with a rambling brain full of stuff,  made me want to get it out of my head and onto this page.

There are some big things going on - houses we are looking at have finally come on the market so I have to view them myself and that means trusting my own judgement and having someone else trust me too. That is scary.

Sad things are happening, slowly. Making me question so many of my beliefs, my ways of thinking that used to keep me safe and are now no longer any use. Much of this I know academically but different when in the middle of it. My footing feels very unsure right now.

Through this and more, the morning walks help. However low I'm feeling just the sight of the Goldfinches flitting from wire to wire, leading me down the road and a quick hop, skip of a lamb makes me smile inside.

Change is a forgone conclusion but that doesn't make it any easier.

I had better things to write when I was walking, of course I distracted myself as soon as I got in. Ah well.

This morning looking out of the window, I realised that I wanted to try to write in a different way. I have a visual memory and find describing feelings and situations very difficult. I think in part because I can't decide what is relevant to say and what is unnecessary.

I do so love words and find their meanings and origens fascinating.

Back to my window.

It's warm, with just a hint of coolness left over from last night. The birds have had their fill at the feeder, mostly woodpeckers, greenfinches and sparrows today. Squabbles happen profusely.

A white butterfly, possibly a cabbage white - although I am not up on my lepidopterans - flitting purposefully around the very tall bush on the other side of the fence. So many tiny flying creatures have taken to the skies bringing the swifts and swallows back to the area. They will be out in force later.

It was as if I was looking out onto the pages of a novel. That idyllic summer's day that has occurred in many of the books I've read.

The view has stories within it.

How the lawn got its patchwork effect, how the hole appeared between the trees giving the woodpeckers easy access to the nuts, why the clothes line is blue, and many more. 

Stories and memories, I like that.

All that information from looking out one smallish window. To think of all the stories and memories being seen all over the world - it is incredible!

 

11th and 12th Oct

 YES!!

I got 2 days open access at Scottish Sculpture Workshop to finally make these sculptures into bronzes.

Ceramic shell covered birds

 

 

 

Bottoms ground off the shells so the wax can be heated and poured out.

Gas torch was used to heat the bottom until the cup came out and then they were put into a oven type thing and heated until the wax poured out.

Now ready to take the bronze!

All the safety gear on while the bronze was heating up, then the pour.

Such a beautiful colour.

After knocking off the ceramic shell, they are ready to cut off from the feeders.

Lots of chasing to do getting rid of the last of the shell.

 

and here they are, ready to add the patina and shine up.

Whew! what a journey.

Friday 17th

My last day until I'm able to do the bronze pour - dates to be confirmed. It has been such a long drawn out process but I'm still grateful to VACMA for choosing my project and funding my learning. 

Today it was more of the same - playing with wax - managed to get most of the pieces attached but had to get Eden to finish a couple for me as I was getting nowhere fast.

They are to stay at SSW and Eden will coat them in a ceramic shell which is a series of layers which have to dry between each dipping, quite a process.

The rest of my time was spent making a mould for the oak leaf ball.

oak leaf ball with silicone layer, I ahd to add another chemical so that the mixture could be brushed on.

and the next part of the process - building up a clay wall so the plaster can be added.

Here it is! the first half siliconed and plaster base added. Underneath all that is half a white plaster oak leaf ball covered in cling film.

More Fun with Wax

 Lots of waxes made, would have been good to make more but time is a factor.

The next stage is to attach the wax sculptures to wax poles (just a cylindrical length of wax). Sounds easy but far from straight forward.

Hot plate on and tools heating up... The trick is to hold the wax cylinder and the piece close together, insert the heated flat tool between them, slightly squeeze together and slide out the tool.

Oh yes, without burning yourself on the tool, dropping the waxes or dropping burning wax on yourself. (hint: it hurts)

3 attached

attached to the bowl

Next, a thicker cylinder is attached to the bowl/bucket and the smaller ones attaached to that. They are upside down at the moment.

Making waxes for the Lost Wax Process

 .... Moulds ready, wax heating up and instructions being given.

Ok!

Here we go....

 The first waxes drying.  Before releasing the moulds they are soaked with cold water (running tap) slowly running over them. This is to make sure the wax has completely solidified as sometimes it is too soft and can be deformed or damaged.

The extra wax is then cut off with a scalpel and snoothed with turps on a scrubby.

Fixing to do

 

Waxes after fixing

Wee bird

More Mould Making

 

A few stages further on and each silicone rubber half mould is encased within plaster.

There are keys within it to hold the mould in place.

The silicone took overnight to set but the plaster is much quicker so before long I had 3 mould waiting for wax.