I haven't posted an art update in a little while. That's because the main project, these days, is a big, slowly-developing one. I'm doing little ones on the side (baskets, calligraphy), but I'll get to those next time.So, out in the shop, as you may recall if you've been following along, I'd just begun cutting the pieces for panel #1 (of three) for CCC (the last three of eight, actually). Each panel has anywhere from about 450 to 570 little pieces of glass. As of today, panel #1 (worship) is cut and foiled. "Foiled?", you say. Good question. But too early. Panel #2 (hands) is cut. And panel #3 (prodigal) is in the early cutting stages.
If you're not interested in any technical stuff, you may now skip to the bottom, where I'll try to come up with something to amuse you.
For the other one or two of you, I will move along. There are two primary types of stained glass construction (there are others , but who cares?). The traditional, long (LONG) standing method (centuries) uses lead between all the little pieces of glass and the places where the lead "lines" meet are soldered together. The other method, invented by L.C.Tiffany (yes, that Tiffany) uses copper tape, or "foil" to wrap the edges of each piece, then the edges are soldered together, forming the "lines" (solder won't stick to glass).
The two methods are used in different kinds of projects, though in certain cases, they are interchangeable. For indoor or 3-D work, foiling works great because it's more rigid (for 3-D) and it's easier to make tight curves or use very small detail. But lead is used where weather is a factor because it expands a contracts a bit and is waterproof. OK.
In the photos, you can see the whole work area, panel one with the copper foil, panel two all cut and sitting there, and then, for panel three, the "cartoon" (pattern) on the light table with tools. The last shot is the whole scene from the opposite side. I do most 9though not all) of my cutting on the light box (24"x 36"--made it myself, thank you). What you can't see, are the grinders, where I can refine the shapes and smooth the edges, so that I don't need so many bandaids as I'm foiling.
I'm hoping to finish these guys in a couple/three weeks, if all goes well. I'm still waiting for some glass that I couldn't find and had to order, so we'll see what happens. Still learning how it works, up here.
OK, here's a pun. It was sent to me earlier this week by our friend, Al, from church, who is an incurable punster. We can only hope for a vaccine, some day. He actually sent a whole passel of pun fun, but I'll print the rest next time. Here it is, brace yourself-- Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which made him rather frail and, with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This made him a super calloused fragile mystic hexed by halitosis.
I can't explain why I cringe and laugh at the same time. Don't worry, though. I'll give the appropriate warning before I print the 9 (nine) others.
We're off to Monterey, in the morning! Dylan will be running in his first triathlon on Saturday! Stay tuned!
