FMP Is Bigger Better ? 15th April

Is Bigger Better?   15th April

Again the day started with getting right into what I have to do. With my glass test piece a bigger success than I thought it would be, I could then move on to finishing my template so that I could start on making the rest of my test piece.

The design sorted, the only thing I have to do cut out the parts of the design that I want raised. This involves drilling holes into the wood so that the saw blade can cut out the shapes of wood without cutting into any other part of the template.

I had to make sure that the drilled holes were big enough for the blades to pass through. I could then take my time cutting out the shapes. This takes longer than I thought. Having used the saw before, I knew that in order to get a steady shape I have to go slowly and carefully otherwise I'll have to make the template from scratch. It would have been easier for me to cut the wood with the laser cutter, getting clear clean lines, but the type of wood that I have to use can't be laser cut, so I have to carefully hand cut the template. When I had finished cutting out the shapes out, I then filed any rough edges so that I have nice clean shapes when I hammer them out.

The only thing that I have to think about is the size. The size I want to make, and the equipment I have available to me, I don't think it will be possible. The only way I can solve this is to make it bigger and have it as a sample or show piece. It would be much like a designer would have a larger, or a replica piece to show a client so they could see their design in a 3D form before the jewellery designer makes the real thing. I would of liked it to be the actual size of the jewellery I designed, but with the tools I have it's not possible.

While I was thinking of size, I also have to think about displaying my work. I was thinking of having lights behind my work, or on my work, seeing as my locket has glass in it. The light would show up the beautiful colour and texture of the glass. Also, when jewellery is displayed in the shops, I've noticed they have some sort of light on them, drawing the eye to the shine of the metal or gems. I'll have to think more about how many lights I would have and if the light would cast any shadows that would help or hinder my piece. My pathway work had beautiful shadows that helped in the impact of the piece. I'll have to test it out with this project as well.