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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 15:23:17 GMT -5
jasoninsd A specific area way you could experiment: geometric free forms with straight edges and sharp (not rounded) corners. Here are a few of mine:      I don't love all of these. They were fun to make, however, and I like thinking about how straight lines and sharp corners compare to rounded lines and rounded corners. I didn't mark out any of these shapes. I just started with a small slab and tweaked the shape with the wheels until I liked it. Most of these have at least one side that is 1.5" long -- the width of the 6" wheel. That makes symmetry easier.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2021 16:09:45 GMT -5
You make them the way I like 'em. Thank you so much Victor!  I make 'em the way I like 'em too! jasoninsd I know I didn't say anything you haven't already thought about (or already tried). With your combination of motivation, work ethic, and technical skills, however, you ought to be able to create something so amazing that I can't even imagine what it might be. I have no specific advice in that regard. I'm just encouraging you to figure it out for yourself. (Then I will copy your innovation. Just joking. Sort of.) A final way of looking at it... your cabs are so consistently good it looks like it's become too easy. Make some ugly free forms (I've got a ton I can show you), and I'll think you're trying harder to push your limits. Motivation plus work ethic plus technical skill doesn't necessarily equal creativity. Just sayin'. After 50 years, I kinda know me. I possess the ability to emulate...not necessarily "create". There's a difference. I've done the "freeform" route...they ARE ugly. I don't see the point in producing something which looks like crap to me or anyone else. What's the point in doing that? jasoninsd A specific area way you could experiment: geometric free forms with straight edges and sharp (not rounded) corners. Here are a few of mine: I don't love all of these. They were fun to make, however, and I like thinking about how straight lines and sharp corners compare to rounded lines and rounded corners. I didn't mark out any of these shapes. I just started with a small slab and tweaked the shape with the wheels until I liked it. Most of these have at least one side that is 1.5" long -- the width of the 6" wheel. That makes symmetry easier. I really envy people who have the ability to go "blindly" at a piece of material and produce something like you have. The triangle and the "Superman Emblem" are gorgeous. I don't consider them "freeforms". They're basic geometric shapes. To me a "freeform" is something you wouldn't likely find in a standard set of templates. Although I'm sure there have been some freeforms that have since been turned into template shapes... Eventually, I'll be getting a French Curve. This will enable me to make predetermined "freeforms"...that have a definitive outline. I need that. I need the outline. |
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Post by drocknut on Dec 30, 2021 16:19:16 GMT -5
Definitely a nice batch of cabs. No help on the id's but I'm really digging the sagginites.
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 16:35:44 GMT -5
You make them the way I like 'em. Thank you so much Victor! I make 'em the way I like 'em too! jasoninsd I know I didn't say anything you haven't already thought about (or already tried). With your combination of motivation, work ethic, and technical skills, however, you ought to be able to create something so amazing that I can't even imagine what it might be. I have no specific advice in that regard. I'm just encouraging you to figure it out for yourself. (Then I will copy your innovation. Just joking. Sort of.) A final way of looking at it... your cabs are so consistently good it looks like it's become too easy. Make some ugly free forms (I've got a ton I can show you), and I'll think you're trying harder to push your limits. Motivation plus work ethic plus technical skill doesn't necessarily equal creativity. Just sayin'. After 50 years, I kinda know me. I possess the ability to emulate...not necessarily "create". There's a difference. I've done the "freeform" route...they ARE ugly. I don't see the point in producing something which looks like crap to me or anyone else. What's the point in doing that? jasoninsd A specific area way you could experiment: geometric free forms with straight edges and sharp (not rounded) corners. Here are a few of mine: I don't love all of these. They were fun to make, however, and I like thinking about how straight lines and sharp corners compare to rounded lines and rounded corners.  I didn't mark out any of these shapes. I just started with a small slab and tweaked the shape with the wheels until I liked it. Most of these have at least one side that is 1.5" long -- the width of the 6" wheel. That makes symmetry easier. I really envy people who have the ability to go "blindly" at a piece of material and produce something like you have. The triangle and the "Superman Emblem" are gorgeous. I don't consider them "freeforms". They're basic geometric shapes. To me a "freeform" is something you wouldn't likely find in a standard set of templates. Although I'm sure there have been some freeforms that have since been turned into template shapes... Eventually, I'll be getting a French Curve. This will enable me to make predetermined "freeforms"...that have a definitive outline. I need that. I need the outline. I was just thinking yesterday that I want to find a template of sort with curves. I can't do good curved free forms either. The geometric shapes just require patience and precision, but no real creativity. For the most part, I just make a symmetrical shape that is similar to the shape of the little slab, that way I have to grind as little as possible. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2021 16:45:05 GMT -5
Definitely a nice batch of cabs. No help on the id's but I'm really digging the sagginites. Thanks Diane! I now have some Sagenite Agate sitting in my "cart" just waiting for me to pull the trigger. I'm reaching the point that I'm gunshy when purchasing "high end" rough online. I just need to get up to The Rock Shed and pick through what Shawn has on hand. LOL Thank you so much Victor! I make 'em the way I like 'em too! Motivation plus work ethic plus technical skill doesn't necessarily equal creativity. Just sayin'. After 50 years, I kinda know me. I possess the ability to emulate...not necessarily "create". There's a difference. I've done the "freeform" route...they ARE ugly. I don't see the point in producing something which looks like crap to me or anyone else. What's the point in doing that? I really envy people who have the ability to go "blindly" at a piece of material and produce something like you have. The triangle and the "Superman Emblem" are gorgeous. I don't consider them "freeforms". They're basic geometric shapes. To me a "freeform" is something you wouldn't likely find in a standard set of templates. Although I'm sure there have been some freeforms that have since been turned into template shapes... Eventually, I'll be getting a French Curve. This will enable me to make predetermined "freeforms"...that have a definitive outline. I need that. I need the outline. I was just thinking yesterday that I want to find a template of sort with curves. I can't do good curved free forms either. The geometric shapes just require patience and precision, but no real creativity. For the most part, I just make a symmetrical shape that is similar to the shape of the little slab, that way I have to grind as little as possible. The French Curve will give you that "template". There's several different styles of French Curves. I think I might just get a cheap "package" deal on eBay that has various ones in it, just so I have them. Maybe I need to do the "concrete floor shatter" and then just go with whatever shapes the Universe gives me at that point...that could be my next step in working freeforms! LOL |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 16:56:43 GMT -5
There's no reason to make something that you and others think is ugly, but sometimes making ugly things is a necessary step in a process. When I make ugly cabs (I've got a bunch) I try to figure out why they're ugly. When I try something similar again, it often gets a little better. You know yourself better than I know you, no doubt about that. But I still don't believe there are any predetermined limits on what you can do, creatively or otherwise. So take that! How about we both make some cabs that are shaped like our favorite traffic signs, and compare notes? I'll take the stop sign, and you can have the interstate sign.  |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 16:58:20 GMT -5
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 16:59:26 GMT -5
Seriously though... the interstate sign would make a sweet cab template.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2021 17:03:33 GMT -5
Seriously though... the interstate sign would make a sweet cab template. It looks like a regular shield template...that ATE too much at Thanksgiving and Christmas!  (You're right. It would be a cool cab shape though!) |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 17:06:20 GMT -5
Last thing: I bet you will do amazing work with the French curve templates. There is a sort of technical-creative approach that would seem perfect for you. Taking photographs is sort of a techinical-creative skill, and you've gotten good at that. If you were totally uncreative, you would just photograph cabs from straight above on a white background. Your photos have a lot more flair than that.
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 17:08:40 GMT -5
Seriously though... the interstate sign would make a sweet cab template. It looks like a regular shield template...that ATE too much at Thanksgiving and Christmas!  (You're right. It would be a cool cab shape though!) What's cool about the interstate sign are to two very subtle inside curves at the top. I'm going g to have to try one later today. I'll see if I've got a fat shield, and I'll just tweak the too edge. |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 17:14:11 GMT -5
Just bought me some French curves for $9. This is going to be awesome. I never knew such a thing existed.
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2021 17:16:30 GMT -5
It looks like a regular shield template...that ATE too much at Thanksgiving and Christmas! (You're right. It would be a cool cab shape though!) What's cool about the interstate sign are to two very subtle inside curves at the top. I'm going g to have to try one later today. I'll see if I've got a fat shield, and I'll just tweak the too edge. I noticed that inside curve at the top too... I was thinking about "inside swoops" yesterday. While I think they really add a nice "flair" to a cab, and can be very visually appealing...they're going to be a sonofagun to wire-wrap. It would look great in a setting...but with wrapping, inside curves don't work well. I have an idea of something I'm going to try with the shapes I'm making...we'll end up seeing if it works. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Dec 30, 2021 17:19:11 GMT -5
Just bought me some French curves for $9. This is going to be awesome. I never knew such a thing existed. Now you're gonna be:  |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 17:45:42 GMT -5
What's cool about the interstate sign are to two very subtle inside curves at the top. I'm going g to have to try one later today. I'll see if I've got a fat shield, and I'll just tweak the too edge. I noticed that inside curve at the top too... I was thinking about "inside swoops" yesterday. While I think they really add a nice "flair" to a cab, and can be very visually appealing...they're going to be a sonofagun to wire-wrap. It would look great in a setting...but with wrapping, inside curves don't work well. I have an idea of something I'm going to try with the shapes I'm making...we'll end up seeing if it works. To me, the big inside swoops are sort of a novelty and a fun way to show off flashy material. It would be cool to make couple, but from what I've heard, wrapping them is somewhere between "no fun" and "not possible." Since the color of sheen obsidian sort of changes with the curve of the dome, a big inside swoop might create a cool visual effect. |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 18:06:56 GMT -5
jasoninsd I just realized that I've had this same conversation about 100 times with my wife. We both like to cook. I haven't used a recipe in years. When I want to make something new, I usually read different recipes online, and then I just make something up, allowing myself to be inspired by the recipes that I read, but not following any one in particular. Sometimes this turns out great. Other times it gets fed to the cats or the birds, and we eat frozen pizza, instead. My wife, on the other hand, is 100% recipe dependent. She looks for recipes that list all ingredients in weight, since she considers volumetric measurements (like 1 cup) to be imprecise for everything except liquid. Our conversations go like this: Her: Why does it say 1/2 cup of raisins? I don't even know what that means. How much am I supposed to pack the measuring cup? Me: It doesn't matter. Just add as many raisins as you want. Her: If it didn't matter, the recipe wouldn't say 1/2 cup. Me: A recipe is just someone else's suggestion. Moses did not bring down a tablet from the mountains that said: "Banana raisin bread shall have 1/2 cups of raisins." Her: If I don't follow the recipe it won't taste good. Me: It might taste even better. You'll never know unless you try. Her: No, it won't. One time I tried to change a recipe and it was a complete disaster. I am not one of those people who can just change recipes. Me: Just try it. It won't hurt. Use the basic liquid to flour ratio in the recipe, and then add whatever ingredients you like. Nuts, raisins, chocolate chips, shredded coconut, whatever... Her: No. Me: Leave the room for a minute, and I will measure the raisins and add them to the batter. Her: You are treating me like a child. Me: It's just banana bread. Who cares. This is crazy. Her: I don't know why they can't just put the weight in the recipe. Me: Even if they put a weight, once you open the container of raisins, they start to dry out, so the same weight would actually give you more raisins. Her: I'm never making banana raisin bread again. ***Six months later*** Her: So I made this bread today. I'm pretty sure it's not going to taste good, but you're not going to believe what I did. Me: What did you do? Her: Instead of raisins, I used craisins -- dried cranberries. Me: Sounds good. So you deviated from the recipe? Her: No, I found another recipe that was almost identical, except it says to use craisins.
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 30, 2021 18:21:31 GMT -5
I never could figure out how to use the French Curve. DH has them and can use them, though. Maybe I need a lesson from him.
YES, inside curves are a pain to wrap but can actually be done fairly successfully.
These were a custom job for Jeff. These are Paul's cabs.
jasoninsd If you ever want to wrap an inside curve and need help just PM me. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Dec 30, 2021 18:28:06 GMT -5
Last thing: I bet you will do amazing work with the French curve templates. There is a sort of technical-creative approach that would seem perfect for you. Taking photographs is sort of a techinical-creative skill, and you've gotten good at that. If you were totally uncreative, you would just photograph cabs from straight above on a white background. Your photos have a lot more flair than that. Hey now! That's what I do. LOL! But I will have you know that I am branching out. Just today, I cut to size a bunch of textured papers to try for backgrounds. An old dog CAN learn new tricks and I'm trying.
I got one of these for my cell phone. I sent my light tent and lights to the Salvation Army and I'm trying to do something with my big Nikon DSLR. It's still worth about 600 and I have all the stuff and an extra lens. I can't just toss it. |
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Post by holajonathan on Dec 30, 2021 18:37:56 GMT -5
Last thing: I bet you will do amazing work with the French curve templates. There is a sort of technical-creative approach that would seem perfect for you. Taking photographs is sort of a techinical-creative skill, and you've gotten good at that. If you were totally uncreative, you would just photograph cabs from straight above on a white background. Your photos have a lot more flair than that. Hey now! That's what I do. LOL! But I will have you know that I am branching out. Just today, I cut to size a bunch of textured papers to try for backgrounds. An old dog CAN learn new tricks and I'm trying.
I got one of these for my cell phone. I sent my light tent and lights to the Salvation Army and I'm trying to do something with my big Nikon DSLR. It's still worth about 600 and I have all the stuff and an extra lens. I can't just toss it. It depends on the purpose of the photos. Your photo approach look professional, in the sense that they accurately portray the shape and colors of the cab -- very important if you are selling cabs to jewelry makers. For cab glamour shots, I like Jason's approach since it shows off the dome and polish better. I take both types of photos. My point was that Jason's skills are broader than he gives himself credit for. |
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hypodactylus
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2021
Posts: 481
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Post by hypodactylus on Dec 30, 2021 18:41:49 GMT -5
rockjunquie I really like the wraps in your photos. I have never tried to wrap any rocks, but your post (and others) have piqued my interest. Any tips on learning what I need and how to do it?
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