Home / Recent Work / Improvisation #4, made from scrap of brass sheet, 10" x 5.5" x 2" 23
Post date / 2018 / February
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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.