Potential images for etching.

Here are two different images I've been working on for possible etchings to be used on various projects during the semester. These have been manipulated from either advertising copy and a self portrait I took with a broken flat bed scanner a few years ago. These images have been distilled to pure black and white images to work with PNP paper, probably one of my favorite resists for etching.

Tool making!

Rocking out some chasing and repousse tools for the semester.

First project: base image for photo eching.

Copyright Robin Connell, 2013.

This photograph was taken with a near broken flat bed scanner, The slow speed of the scanner scanning at a very high resolution (and the fact it was barely working) created some interesting distortions in the image. For photo etching I need to work with a completely black and white image, so I will need to manipulate it to make it black and white. Once manipulated I will be able to print it out on PNP paper and then etch the image into copper. The final result will be enameled in the champleve technique.

First project, enamel and chased mask, mechanical concerns.

The mask will be two layers, one a photo etching with champleve enamel so I need to make sure that the movement of the second layer doesn't put an undue stress on the enamel layer. Instead of having a spring or hinge mechanism my professor came up with a great idea to have the layers slide, using slots like a stereoscope viewing device. The best part of having this versus a hinge will allow the mask and narrative to be expanded on later.



As you can see in this image there are two wire slots on the viewer that hold stereoscope cards. The mask itself will use a similar idea but be solid tabs.

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Another example of a stereoscope machine showing how the card is held.

New semester!

It's hard to believe that's already the fourth week of the semester but things are starting to really kick into gear. First project out is a chasing/repousse project, while this semester has no theme we still have to choose a narrative for our first project. I'm settling on less of a direct narrative (i.e. a written story) than exploring personality disorders and existential crises. My plan is to make a multilayerd mask that uses both chasing and repousse techniques and incorporates my studies into champleve enameling over the summer. Stay tuned as I will be posting references and sketches soon!