Was fortunate enough to attend a masterclass with Ndidi Ekubia it was a truly fantastic class and I learned so much! Raised a straight sided bowl and then worked into it with different hammers to create different surfaces and textures next tried to make a vessel that curved back in on itself no process photos unfortunately Really enjoying trying to keep it accurate to the drawings and measurements. #silversmithing #raising #making #copper #practice

Creating a bowl with Air chased details Air chasing is a form of foldforming which is the practice of folding metal and then reopening it to create a texture/pattern or feature. Foldforming in general works because certain areas of the metal become work hardened- this is especially true of air chasing which relies on the work hardening of the sides of the design to allow for work to be done on the top with out collapsing. outside of the bowl This was made from a blocked bowl

Sinking in order to raise! Not my first time playing with this process, but certainly the first time I have really thought about what I am trying to do. Blocking/sinking and raising are all ways to make a flat sheet into a 3d shape. Blocking is hitting the metal into a block of wood. Sinking is also the same but there are some differences (I have been told) Ultimately they both involve hitting the metal and an angle from the edge to the centre. Raising on the other hand invol

Looking at how the colour schemes work with the colour of the metal and different textures I think the diffusion of colour in this piece means that the copper works really well I think this colour scheme works ok, but I don't think it's deep enough for the colours to disperse enough. The way the colours have fallen with this particular test, I think, make it slightly too 'samey' for the copper to work Works slightly better with the silver going through the copper as the colo

Working out general aspects of what I want the final to look like. Need light coming up from underneath Deciding whether or not I need a rim round the sides of the glass - Really like the colour coming out from the side. Playing with the idea of the heather under the rock Looking at combing different metals for making the base I think the multiple colours work with the clear glass, but cheapen the coloured (in its current form) Playing with twisting lots of different variatio

Creating relief carvings in the glass Really like how it looks Random layering of fibre paper under the glass- wanted to see what the result would look like with multiple different layers showing what the kiln carving looks like with light underneath From these pictures I think that if there is kiln carving going to be done in the final piece, the subtler rims may be more effective however the over all effect might be different with colour on top. Really like how the differen

Comparing the different metals with the glass colour scheme Really like how the different metals change the feel of the different pieces. Looking at how the different metal textures work as rims for the coloured glass shapes. I think the textures work well with the glass, however will need to be careful it doesn't become overly complicated #Mountkeen #glassandmetal #warmglass #copper #texture #materials #tests

Left to right copper has been left in for 15, 30, 45, 60 & 75 minutes Using ferric chloride acid- fresh mix 2:5 ration pieces left at 15 min intervals comparison between a 15min tile and 75 min tile Brass etched 15 mins Silver etched 60 mins Really like the depth of this etch Copper etched 30 mins I really like the pitted texture through all the different metals #Mountkeen #etching #metal #copper #silver #brass #making #heritage

Glass casting tests, seeing what the tension is like with the copper fully incased. Used offcuts of glass from other projects so I am aware the colour complicates things a bit. However what you can see is that the copper is fused in the glass and there appears to be no tension. BUT the copper is giving off a gas, which is down to partly the copper, but also could be due to the cleanliness of the copper. What you will also notice is the glass is quite cloudy from the mould. Th

First tests fusing glass and copper Absolutely love the colour that the copper goes when it fuses with the glass. Really like how the glass flows over the metal forms. Temperature test at 720 °C - some fusing round the corners but a lot of tension - my theory is that the metal is shifting after the glass has cooled I think that as the temperature increases and the fusing becomes more wide spread the tension will become less. Temperature test at 815 °C the fusing is much mor

Start of the Material testing Initial Material tests in copper looking at how the length and shape of line affects how the metal can be manipulated. Next stage, seeing how the these forms hold up under the weight of glass and high temperatures. #copper #metal #forms #tests #mountkeen #countours