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Post by liveoak on Apr 5, 2024 11:07:54 GMT -5
Eclipse Pendants Of course, living in Florida, there is no chance that I will see the eclipse next week, but my sister who lives in the northeast has gotten quite animated about seeing it & suggested I make a pendant for the occasion. I'm not very proficient at enamel, it's one of those techniques that really takes a lot of time to truly master. But I dabble in it now & then, just to remember how frustrated I can get ! The first piece (on left) is a simple sifted vitreous enamel (glass) which came out OK. I see it as a “folk art” kind of graphic.
The second piece is done with a technique called champleve' Basically a design is deeply etched into copper then the low parts (etched out) are filled with vitreous enamel and fused in a high temperature kiln. The true art in this technique, which is similar to cloisionne, is in the layering of the colors – and the one I still need a LOT of work in !
The third piece is the one I sent to my sister, which is an etched copper piece as well, with a painted and baked acrylic enamel coating that I purchased from Rio Grande, some years ago. I really wanted some color that popped out & with this one I think I got it. If you're lucky enough to live somewhere that you have clear skies & have a good view of the eclipse on Monday, I hope you'll share the experience. Anyway, thanks for looking, Patty
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Post by rockjunquie on Apr 5, 2024 11:21:27 GMT -5
Wow! I don't know which one I like better! You have proven yourself quite the artist.  I know that enameling is difficult.
One of my daughters and her husband went west to see it better. They rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure it will be nice.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Apr 5, 2024 12:05:43 GMT -5
Such nice gifts you give! Your pieces look great.
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gemfeller
Cave Dweller 
Member since June 2011
Posts: 4,059 
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Post by gemfeller on Apr 5, 2024 12:11:01 GMT -5
Love the idea! I've never enameled so have no idea how difficult this project would be but I think a scene at totality with just the Corona (or maybe the String of Pearls effect) showing would be awesome. Good work!
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Post by pebblesky on Apr 5, 2024 12:15:33 GMT -5
They are so nice! The piece you sent to your sister is beautiful.
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Post by liveoak on Apr 5, 2024 12:32:16 GMT -5
Wow! I don't know which one I like better! You have proven yourself quite the artist. I know that enameling is difficult.
One of my daughters and her husband went west to see it better. They rented a cabin in the middle of nowhere. I'm sure it will be nice.
Thanks Tela. I just have fun playing with stuff
Sounds like your daughter came up with a great excuse for a vacation !
Such nice gifts you give! Your pieces look great. Thanks Gary.
Yeah, I think I got tricked into this one by my sister  Love the idea! I've never enameled so have no idea how difficult this project would be but I think a scene at totality with just the Corona (or maybe the String of Pearls effect) showing would be awesome. Good work! Thanks, I thoguht about that, but I think the partial eclipse shows what you're looking at, at a glance, on a pendant.
Maybe I'll re-consider in the future. I think the next eclipse is in 2 years .
We can't even see the eclipse from Florida - so we're going fishing - it's supposed to be good that day 
Patty
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Post by liveoak on Apr 5, 2024 12:33:21 GMT -5
They are so nice! The piece you sent to your sister is beautiful. Thank you , and the funny thing is she acted surprised when she got it yesterday |
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rocknewb101
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since October 2022
Posts: 1,368
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Post by rocknewb101 on Apr 5, 2024 14:04:17 GMT -5
Wow! All three of those are super nice and quite interesting! I really like the one you sent your sister, but the other two are quite spectacular too!! I'm NE Ohio and took the day off (mainly to avoid crazy traffic) so I'll get to view it at home. I work for a university and the town is drawing people in with eclipse festivities all day long! If I didn't have a 40 minute commute I might actually enjoy it, but nah, hard pass for me.
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Post by opalpyrexia on Apr 5, 2024 17:30:56 GMT -5
Such nice gifts you give! Your pieces look great. Thanks Gary.
Yeah, I think I got tricked into this one by my sister
I experienced enameling in middle school and hated it: I tried several designs on copper and every one turned to mush. Never did it again despite a high school opportunity.
An odd thought just occurred: might there be potential to enhance a cab? A type of mixed media?
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rockinronda
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2023
Posts: 220
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Post by rockinronda on Apr 5, 2024 17:45:38 GMT -5
Wow 😱 Gorgeous! I LOVE the soft blue of the first two 😍 That last one looks professional tho! I was at a crossroads for a new hobby and either it was gonna be stained glass art and enamel or rocks. Rocks had the better appeal cause seemed easier to learn without an in-person mentor. NOTHING worth doing is easy!
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Post by liveoak on Apr 5, 2024 18:07:50 GMT -5
Wow! All three of those are super nice and quite interesting! I really like the one you sent your sister, but the other two are quite spectacular too!! I'm NE Ohio and took the day off (mainly to avoid crazy traffic) so I'll get to view it at home. I work for a university and the town is drawing people in with eclipse festivities all day long! If I didn't have a 40 minute commute I might actually enjoy it, but nah, hard pass for me. Thanks, Peta, sounds like a great idea for a day off. Considering the eclipse only lasts less than 5 minutes, maybe you can play with some rocks, the rest of the time I experienced enameling in middle school and hated it: I tried several designs on copper and every one turned to mush. Never did it again despite a high school opportunity.
An odd thought just occurred: might there be potential to enhance a cab? A type of mixed media?
I think I can understand what turned you off with enamel, especially as a kid - It's not as intuitive as you might think, and as I said, I have found it a very steep learning curve to get it even half right. I'm in awe of some of the enamel artists out there & what they make.
To the best of my knowledge, the only stone that I've read that people incorporate into the enamel itself is cubic zirconia.
The kiln temp is around 1600 degrees, so nothing to sneeze at.
I'm sure there must be other stones that can withstand the temp without harm, but I haven't experimented with that.
OTOH, I could see a bezel set stone (inserted after) with an enamel border on a pendant.
It's an interesting idea & one I might just pursue. Thank you 
Wow, 😱 Gorgeous! I LOVE the soft blue of the first two 😍 That last one looks professional tho! I was at a crossroads for a new hobby and either it was going to be stained-glass art and enamel or rocks. Rocks had the better appeal, cause it seemed easier to learn without an in-person mentor. NOTHING worth doing is easy! Thanks, Ronda.
I have to disagree - Everything is learnable without a mentor, but it just takes more time & practice ....... Repeat as needed .......
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 5, 2024 20:22:39 GMT -5
Cool pendants.👍 We we’re lucky to be near the path of the last eclipse in 2017. We watched it through a welding hood and took pics through it as well. I should dig those out, I remember them turning out neat. After this one not many of us will have another chance to see one of these.
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Post by liveoak on Apr 5, 2024 20:35:31 GMT -5
Cool pendants.👍 We we’re lucky to be near the path of the last eclipse in 2017. We watched it through a welding hood and took pics through it as well. I should dig those out, I remember them turning out neat. After this one not many of us will have another chance to see one of these. Thanks Khara.
You're right, I read in 2 years it's best seen in Spain.
Love to see your photos of last round.
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 5, 2024 23:20:15 GMT -5
I think this is kind of a neat one. We removed the glass from a welding hood and just photo’d through it. The sun looks like a moon. It did get quite dark even though we were about 3 hours from the direct path and so none of the fuller eclipse pics turned out.  |
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Post by liveoak on Apr 6, 2024 5:48:06 GMT -5
I think this is kind of a neat one. We removed the glass from a welding hood and just photo’d through it. The sun looks like a moon. It did get quite dark even though we were about 3 hours from the direct path and so none of the fuller eclipse pics turned out. Cool  Thanks for sharing Patty
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Post by MsAli on Apr 6, 2024 9:09:26 GMT -5
These are too cool! I've been looking at doing enamel
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Post by liveoak on Apr 6, 2024 9:41:45 GMT -5
These are too cool! I've been looking at doing enamel Thanks, Ali.
If you were local, I'd suggest coming on over & we'd do some together - maybe we'd both learn how to do it
If you're serious, I have a couple of books I could recommend.
Patty
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khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,979
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Post by khara on Apr 6, 2024 15:47:02 GMT -5
So did you use a kiln on your glass ones and then a kitchen oven on your acrylic one? I’ve also, very slightly, dabbled in glass enameling. I bought some of the basic tools and set of colors and a little mini kiln, mostly all used. I actually did the baking with a handheld torch before finding the kiln and still haven’t used it yet. I enjoyed it but like so many things I need to figure out how to work less and play more! One of these days…. soon!
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Post by liveoak on Apr 6, 2024 17:22:16 GMT -5
Yes, you're right khara , the glass in the kiln. I have one big enough to have a door, and the acrylic in actually a toaster oven. I tried doing torch enamel and I didn't prefer it. Probably because it might be easier depending on who you ask.
Patty
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Post by MsAli on Apr 6, 2024 19:00:22 GMT -5
These are too cool! I've been looking at doing enamel Thanks, Ali.
If you were local, I'd suggest coming on over & we'd do some together - maybe we'd both learn how to do it
If you're serious, I have a couple of books I could recommend.
Patty
I decided for now, I am gonna gold off. I have to get motivated to do some smithing 1st |
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I know that enameling is difficult.
