Weldon47
~ Elite 1000 Member ~
Here are a couple of pics of a cape buffalo I did recently. One is of the Original (raised steel inlay done on a Dakota #10), the other is of a silver pendant.
I made the sterling silver oval, engraved it, made the hanger and added it on, then added the buffalo.
The buffalo head is where it gets interesting (if it's been boring up to now!). I made a rubber mold of the buffalo head on the side of the Dakota. I then used PMC (precious metal clay) to gently press into the rubber mold. After letting it air dry, I cleaned it up and then fired it in the kiln. As you may (or may not already) know, PMC is silver dust in an organic binder and sort of has the consistency of slimy play dough before it's fired. After being fired (according to the instructions), the organic binder is burned out leaving pure silver. The version I used for this piece shrinks about 28% but retains the proportions and details of the original. PMC is a little lighter (for the given volume) than silver sheet or a casting but the possibilities are almost unlimited.
I thought this would be a way to use (the extreme amount of work on)the original several times.
I purchased the PMC I have through Rio Grande supply.
Thought you would enjoy seeing what happens when I get locked in the shop for a while!
Weldon
Oh, I still have a little to do on the pendant
I made the sterling silver oval, engraved it, made the hanger and added it on, then added the buffalo.
The buffalo head is where it gets interesting (if it's been boring up to now!). I made a rubber mold of the buffalo head on the side of the Dakota. I then used PMC (precious metal clay) to gently press into the rubber mold. After letting it air dry, I cleaned it up and then fired it in the kiln. As you may (or may not already) know, PMC is silver dust in an organic binder and sort of has the consistency of slimy play dough before it's fired. After being fired (according to the instructions), the organic binder is burned out leaving pure silver. The version I used for this piece shrinks about 28% but retains the proportions and details of the original. PMC is a little lighter (for the given volume) than silver sheet or a casting but the possibilities are almost unlimited.
I thought this would be a way to use (the extreme amount of work on)the original several times.
I purchased the PMC I have through Rio Grande supply.
Thought you would enjoy seeing what happens when I get locked in the shop for a while!
Weldon
Oh, I still have a little to do on the pendant