Winter is upon us

The first frosts have arrived, and therefore working in the Shack becomes a bit more... 'Shackleton' like. Although the thin insulation we glued on last year has stopped the worst excesses of the condensation, we still get the odd drip - and in really cold weather, its like being in an ice grotto, complete with stalagtites!

I've several projects which need to be got on with - Aluminium Overcast #3 (which I'm hoping will have a home over at ASI, the people who strip down old airframes - www.airsalvage.co.uk ), a piece I've entitled 'Square Pegs in Round Holes, plus I want to make some 'optical moulds' for glass blowers. I spent a fantastic weekend over with my old friends Andy and Becky Potter ( www.pottermorganglass.com ), being given a brief introduction into the art of glass blowing. I had a fantastic time - enjoyed every minute of it, and have come away feeling very inspired. If is wasn't for the fact that I'm nursing a bout of man flu, I'd be cracking on today.

I spent last weekend up at the shack starting prep work for Overcast #3 and having a general tidy up. It has to be said that the shack is *somewhat* chaotic at the best of times - but it felt good making some space and tidying things into some sort of order.

Ok - catch you all soon.

Tobes

Latest news...

Its been a while - but I'm busy back at college and Johns been off sailing the oceans blue (or at least the lakes and rivers). More casting activity to follow soon!

In the meantime, I've been exhibiting as part of the 50/50 show at Artsite in Swindon. I've had a couple of serious sounding enquiries regarding my piece 'Aluminium overcast #2' - PLUS Matthew Hamilton-Wright has taken this rather fantastic photo of it:

"Project Cage" update

This week saw significant steps being made with my latest project. 

I left off last time having all but finished the (giant) sand mould.  Here it is, completely finished and ready to pour (well, actually it was set on its side to pour, but this is near as damn it ready and it looks quite pie-like here, which I like).

Toby and I then poured the thing.  We paid extra special care to the quality of aluminium used and to the additives we introduced to the molten metal because (as always) I was after perfection.  Here is the piece fresh from the pour:

And now, with the inner sand removed, quite a lot of flashing, but it was all very flimsy stuff:

Finally, after hours of vigourous fettling, I ended up with this:

It turned out quite well methinks.  In fact, Toby was so excited, he needed a lie down:

The next step will be to smooth and polish the outer surface and then start work on the interior piece (I'm thinking a brass lost wax effort as per "Tobyesque" would look nice).

Take it easy folks!

John

Busy week

Just a few musings over a busy week. First off, I spent a charming day in the company of Ms Joanna Bell, restoring one of my babies, Naissance. The unfotunate sculpture had suffered a bit in the heavy winter - but a bit of tlc, some new plaster (and plenty of tea from Joanna!) had everything back as it should be in short order. Here is Naissance looking nice and new is her lovely surroundings:

John's due over early tomorrow and I'm hoping we can both crack on. I need to work on a special request - a contact wants me to make a unicorn, plus I need to get a shift on with a fish for the Waterpark!

Toby

Addendum from John.... here's Toby working on that Unicorn: