Rustnstuff: Bone for carving

Showing posts with label Bone for carving. Show all posts

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Bone stories

We have been rather busy over the weekend on watch and alert for ember attack from the bushfire that at times has raged in the valley below. Fortunately this fire has, in the main, been brought under control for the moment - but many spot fire outbreaks still occur - so don't stand down and don't put the firefighting gear away just yet.

This morning I decided to do a small bit of creative work that fits with my fishing boat prototype from Friday. Continuing a bit of the story of the fishing industry in northern Scotland in the period after the highland clearances.

When we were at the cottage I used a bit of bone to make a piece that reflected the bog plant Sundew. Today I used some of the bone I had left home to make a small piece that reflected filleted skeletons of herring.

It was a good contained little creative task. I see working with bone as a good way of linking what I do here and what I do there at the cottage - creating part of the story of the two places.

Monday, October 7, 2019

A small bone object inspired by nature

The above small bone object was inspired by the bog plant similar to the one below.

Doing this little piece gave me the opportunity to use the recently completed "workshop" as seen in the photo below.

A few process photos follow.

And another one of the completed piece below - it still requires a bit of fine sanding. It really is a piece to be held like a talisman; or simply enjoyed seen sitting on a ledge.

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Versatility of bone and horn

I made the above small installation-micro sculpture for a good friend of ours in recognition of her many skills, strength and talent. The piece is about strong women - three to be precise - standing strong individually and with each other.

I made the following pendant for a friend who is struggling.

And the earrings are to be given away to a bunch of friends next week.

I think one is fortunate to possess a bit of creative ability - it makes it easier to do random bits of kindness.

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Books, compassion exhibition and bones

Fiona and I went to the official opening of the Compassion Artists' Book Exhibition yesterday afternoon - there was a good crowd to honour the work of the 26 artists. Ken and Ardleigh, in the photo below, had done a massive job to bring it all together. Big thank you to Ken and Ardleigh. The exhibition is open for a few weeks so a good opportunity to get along.

I had 6 pairs small book earrings; and 12 small metal books in the exhibition 'shop'. The earrings all sold out in a couple of hours as did a few small metal books. I was asked by Ardleigh and a number of attendees whether I would be willing to make more earrings.

I started the process of making up to ten pair today as you can see from the opening photo and the process photos below.

Still a lot of work to do on the earrings; but hopefully I will finish them by or on the next weekend.

Since I was in preparation mode I decided to clean and cut more bone: some for carving and some for pendants and earrings. As you can see I managed a reasonable assortment. Bit of a warning about sawing and sanding bone - always best to be done in the open and with a good quality mask on. Bone dust is not so good for the lungs.

Now that I have the pages for the books and the bone cut there is no excuse for me not grabbing bits of time to make the pieces.

Sunday, June 9, 2019

Mini pod and bone

As the title says this blog post touches on the mini pod I completed over the weekend; and the preparation of bone for carving.

First the mini pod. Called a mini because the finished pod is about 45mm at its widest point and 39cm in diameter across the top. The most difficult thing about hammering out a small pod is being able to hold it firmly on the metal stake and not hit one's thumb or finger. A few process photos follow.

As you can see from the photos below this pod is quite small compared to the earlier hand shaped pod. I was pleased with the outcome.

Recently I saw a book on bone carving in one of the local second hand book shops. I thought it would be interesting to give carving a go since I have used bone and horn in jewellery. I also wanted to see how one prepared the bone. Of course it sorted with buying a couple of large beef bones and getting the butcher to saw the knuckles off. All the surplus meat and coating on the bones had to be scraped off and marrow removed. I thin cut the bones into rectangles to enable me to finish the scraping and brushing before soaking in detergent and bleach. the dried bone looks ready for carving.

The bone I have used in the past for jewellery has usually been through a cooking process. According to the book this results in oil etc penetrating the bone. Processing it as I did is supposed to produce whiter bone - we will see.