A week ago I posted in Face Book that I had finished several pair of earrings made from Hadar’s clay. I was experimenting with techniques from her book, The Handbook of Metal Clay Textures and Form, and I promised to share my experience with you.
The larger oval pair of earrings (lower left in photo) combines Brilliant Bronze and Copper. I carved curvy stripes in the copper oval and laid in snakes of bronze, sanded flat and fired. I know I could polish and make them smoother and shinier but I like the more rustic look. I used Baldwin’s Patina to bring out the color contrast.
The upper right pair of earrings also combines the bronze and copper. The back textured layer is bronze and the smaller rectangle is copper. I was concerned that the copper might be too thick and not bond well but as you can see – no problem!
The earring on the lower right also has a backing of bronze. I carved horizontal strips and laid the copper snakes in. Then a textured the snakes cutting them into short diagonal dashes.
The last two pair of earrings are made of bronze flex clay. I had never worked with the flex clay and only did it this time because I accidentally mixed some with water without reading the label. I’m so glad that happened because I love working with it. I made the ‘Rubber Band Earrings’ first following Hadar’s directions. (p.106 of the book) and love the rhythm of the earrings.
The woven earring is just that…woven from strips of the flex clay. I dried them on a light bulb so they would have a nice curve.
I like working with Hadar’s clay. I’m sure part of it is the fact I took her workshop and sat across from her as she demonstrated! Helps to have the pro that close.
The test strips became earrings too!
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