Steel cable Chain

In my new design I decided to keep the oval end bits but this time I would loop it around and make my links that way. This should make it have more volume it will also crate negative space and make it look lite and airy. I am most happy with the bottom design because it will create a more three dimensional shape.

Razor wire

I was not happy with my earlier chain designs I felt they were to boring. I saw some razor wire and liked the way it made up volume out of these very thin pieces of wire. I then thought I should do something similar to make links for my chain.

Steel cable Chain

I started looking at what jewelery could make use of the tensile strength steel cable can provide. I decided that a chain would be a good place to start these are the 1st designs that came to mid it is basically a rectangular link where two of the sides are made up of steel cable. I decided that the silver end pieces should be oval to make it more interesting to look at and to tie it in with the parabolic shape of my other pieces.

Bone China neck piece with Steel Cable

This was my 1st attempt at using steel cable I am happy with the way it looks, but i feel that the steel cable was not used to its full potential. I did take advantage of the spring steel cable has. it allowed me to make a very open design because the steel cable keeps it shape. I could have used spring steel wire for this and it would have done it better. I also did not use tension on the steel in any way. I am not happy with how i used the steel cable in this piece.

Past Steel Cable attemts

I have tried to use steel cable in the past but i have never been happy with the results. I feel i need to push the material more and take more advantage of it tensile strength

Steel cable

I have always loved the way steel cable is used in architecture. I like how it creates negative space and how it makes things look lite. I am also interested in the fact that it has a very high tensile strength because of the way it is constructed. I want to see how I can apply this to jewellery I want to use the cable in the same way it is used in architecture. I want to take advantage of its tensile strength to make something lite and delicate looking, but it must actually be very strong.

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.

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.

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.