- Bird-vine
- For a much more detailed version of this process, watch this video
- 1. In order to determine the shape to cut out of sheet brass, the first step is a clay model.
- 2. The clay model is submerged in "Dip Seal" which has been heated at 350° to a liquid state.
- 3. The model pulled out, the rubbery Dip Seal coating sets up immediately.
- 4. Having used a sharp knife to cut the Dip Seal where I want the seam to be, I now remove the rubbery Dip Seal skin.
- 5. Now the Dip Seal skin is spread out as flat as possible onto paper and traced with a pencil.
- 6. The paper was cut while folded to ensure symmetry.
- 7. Tracing around the paper pattern onto 16 gauge brass sheet. The paper pattern can be kept to use again.
- 8. The brass piece has been cut out, annealed and pickled, and lines drawn on it as guides for hammering.
- 9. The hammer-forming begins.
- 10. Stage one completed, it's getting annealed.
- 11. Planishing the head on a ball stake.
- 12. Planishing and forming the body.
- 13. Forming the beak.