Parabola

This is the Hercilio Luz Bridge in Brazil it is an example of an Steinman Bridge which is unique because it uses a steel truss stiffening component that connects to the steel cable at different heights so it can use the strength of the parabolic shape that the cable takes on.

Parabola

Capilano Bridge, North Vancouver, British Columbia. in this picture you can see how the ends of the bridge are not as curved as the middle all hanging flexible objects take on this shape

Parabola

This is the path a bouncing ball takes when thrown onto the ground notice the parabolic shape.

Parabola

The curves I choose for my pieces are parabolas I like the way they look and the property's that parabolas have. A parabola is a geometric shape with some property's I find very interesting it is an extremely strong shape for an arch, it is the shape of the trajectory of an object that has been thrown and allowed to fall and it is also the shape a flexible object will take when suspended for two points.

Catenary arch

The Tāq-i Kisrā is a Persian monument built Iraq It was damaged in floods in 1888 and was busy being restored before the 1st gulf work broke out it differs from later western arches in that it is a parabolic arch which is much stronger.

Catenary arch

The Gate way arch in St Louis, Missouri uses the catenary shape to use as little material possible to make the arch.

Catenary arch

Catenary arches under the terrace of Casa Milà

Catenary arch

I find arches interesting because they are strong but they look very delicate because they create negative space. The 1st arch i found interesting was the Lancet arch. When I started to analyze why I liked arches I discovered it was because they use the least material to give the most strength. This made me look for the strongest type of arch that's when I found the Catenary arch. This arches shape comes from the shape a chain makes when you hold it at the ends and let it hang. If you take this basic shape and turn it upside down it makes a very strong arch shape. This shape is called a parabola and is the basis for the curves I put on my jewellery.

Beginning of curves

My attraction to curves started with the Lancet arch. This arch is widely used in Gothic architecture because it allows you to build tall buildings. Gothic architecture was all about building tall to get closer to god. I like the way the arch is used to frame these windows and also provides the strength needed to hold the structure up. I love the way arches serve a function by holding up the building but also are visually pleasing to look at.

Why curves

I always put curves on my jewellery I feel that i need to explain why. i have always found curves beautiful, but i feel some are more beautiful than others. I am very specific about the curves i put on my jewellery it cant be to much of a curve and it also must not be to strait. I also like them to have a variation in the curve so they lead your eye. I make them so they are a little tighter on one end to the other I think this makes them more interesting to look at. I also love curves because of the physical strength they give things.

Red Eye

I helped to organize this months Red Eye I wanted to see what went into making this event happen. I would like to do more events like this because I think it is a good way of exhibiting. I feel that art has to be more entertaining to attract more people to it.

Anglo Plat

This is my Anglo Plat design. It is two bangles made of platinum and stainless steel. They can be worn separately but the fit together to make one bangle.
The idea is that in todays world people move around alot so couples some times have to be apart for work. The colours on the inside are taken from the meanings of the colours of zulu beads. Red stands for intence and jelous love. The blue stands for thoughts of your loved one loyalty and lonelyness.
The idea is to give your partner the appropriate colour and keep the other for yourself. When that person returns you get it back.

Artspace Exhibition

Two glass cases in a crowded room turned out not to be such a good idea... the turn out was great. unfortunately my cases were almost knocked over many times. I was pretty happy with my display, but I do think it distracted to much from the jewellery. I saw many people wandering how it was put together and how it was not falling apart. The idea was to make the cases look architectural and very simple and as minimal as possible. I think I achieved that. The glass boxes were constructed of glass panes with modified roofing washers to hold them together on the corners. The stands were made of PVC and polycarbonate that were glued together.

Folded bangle

This is the prototype for the folded bangle. Almost got all the design kinks are out and I'm happy with the results so far. Looking at it now, I see the possibility for a commercial piece where I use just the tubes and the rubber for a bangle or neck piece. It will be more marketable because it would not have all the sharp edges on this one and will be less hazardous.

Coffee

Finally finished, the handle now just needs to be attached. The polished outer edge should look good when you crank the handle. To add contrast I left the raw worked surface on the rest of it and darkened it by heating it. This will also go better with the rest of the coffee grinder which is made of cast iron.

Teaser

use this for teaser just crop most of it off so it does not look like jewellery

this is the forged section of the coffee grinder. I have decided to leave the forged texture on it and clean and polish the edges to give it a finished look

similar jewellery artist

Shaun Leane is an artist I have found that does very similar work to mine aesthetically. He also uses long curved shapes to make his work look elegant and beautiful. He also likes to put a sinister edge on his work while still keeping it beautiful.
When I first found him I was very disappointed that there was someone who did work so similar to what I was doing. That is why I have to push my work further so it will be different to what he does.

How my jewellery should be displayed

At my third year exhibition I had 'glass' cubes staked on top of each other, on each level I had jewelery displayed. It worked well because you could walk around it and see the pieces from all angles. what i did not like about it was that the bottom levels had to be empty because it was not comfortable to view them because the were to low. I am happy with the boxes and will use them again but I want to eliminate the bottom levels, i could put them on stands or hang them from the roof or a wall.

arm for coffee grider

I am making an arm for an old coffee grinder it will be made out of stainless steel with a wooden handle I want it to look like a new interpretation of the old one that cannot be fixed. it must still work well with the design of the grinder.

A real choker

I have been working on a concept which is basically a choker. I want to make if from rubber with stainless steel. The idea is that there is an open end, to get it on and off and the stainless is there so that it will want to keep its shape. I want it to be very flexible so it is almost like a second skin. The rubber will soften the effects of the steel and make it comfortable to wear, while still allowing it to flex.
I still need to resolve exactly what it will look like and need to learn more about working with rubber so a few prototypes will need to be done.

samurai pocket piece

this piece is an amulet that represents the three main attributes of the samurai honor, strength and protection

anticlastic earring

this is my 1st attempt at 'anticlastic razing'. I chose to try this technique because I like the way you can manipulate plate with it. I wanted to make a piece that had volume but was extremely light. because I used this forging technue the metal is left hard and slightly domed this makes it possable to make it extremely thin. so the techneque has become the the design.

Yin Yang bangle

The two halves are folded in opposite directions so the openings are on different sides still they have the same silhouette. The finish is the same on both but one is more polished than the other making one look dark and one light. This is Yin Yang in that the two halves are the same but also completely opposite.

chromatic bracelet

colour is not usually something I use in my jewellery. in this piece I think the deep blue makes it more interesting by drawing your attention to the inside of the fold and also contrasts and complements the metal. I may use this clear blue in other pieces in the future.