Home / Recent Work / Improvisation #4, made from scrap of brass sheet, 10" x 5.5" x 2" / Improvisation #4, how it was made 20
Creation date / 2018
1. This is a scrap of 16 gauge brass, about 10" long, what was in between a few other rounded shapes that had been cut out for other projects. When I saw the shape it reminded me of a four-legged animal running.
2. Using the hydraulic press to push out a face.
3. It did just what I wanted it to do. 
4. I didn't get pictures of a lot of the earliest forming. All the pointed parts have been formed, using the technique shown in picture #7. Here I am using the ball stake shown in the inset to round out the body.
5. Using the stake shown at the top to form the neck area.
6. For the tighter curve near the edges, I used this stake shown on the left.
7. Forming the tail some more, tightening the curve.
8. Annealing the whole piece, to make the metal malleable again after having been thoroughly work-hardened.
9. Pushing out the face some more, with a more pointed tool.
10. Looking a little better all the time.
11. Forming the head some more on the same tool used to punch it.
12. Making the neck curve a little more.
13. Using the stake shown on the left to do the final planishing on the body.
14. I annealed the head area one more time and punched it out with an even more pointed tool. 
15. I did a lot more final forming and planishing, refining the shape in an effort to capture the motion of a running or leaping gazelle. The final touch, to make a hanger for it so it can be hung on a wall.