Metal Artist's Workbench
Project: Calder Spoons
In this excerpt from Thomas Mann’s METAL ARTIST’S WORKBENCH, you’ll learn to create a personal pieces of art as SPOONS! Learn the techniques, then have ideas for whatever you want to create in the future.
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Metal Artist’s Workbench is published by North Light Books, an imprint of F+W Media, Inc.
From METAL ARTIST'S WORKBENCH by Thomas Mann, 2011; courtesy of CREATEMIXEDMEDIA.COM here are no words that can adequately WHAT YOU NEED describe the profound effect that Alexander • Calder Spoon pattern and rub- Calder Spoons (Sandy) Calder delivered to this young art- T ber cement 1 ist. He was, and continues to be, an inspir- • ⁄16" (2mm) aluminum sheet, 4" x 6" (10cm ing force in my life, along with Joseph x 15cm) Cornell, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, and • jeweler’s saw many others. But Sandy’s influence over • 2/0 saw blades me was due to more than just who he was • bench pin as an artist. His lifestyle and career path • inverted cone burr or triangular needle file provided a model for me to follow • rivet hammer One of the most intriguing things I • planishing hammer learned about his home life, was that he • sandbag or concave wood block made most of the cooking utensils that his • bench vise wife used in their country kitchen. Some • towel were made of wire, others of aluminum • steel bench block sheet. Though they looked similar, there • drill with no. 55 bit were no patterns; Calder always made them • 16g copper rivets spontaneously. You can make a version of • flush cutters
1 his wonderful utensils simply by using the • ⁄2" (13mm) diameter rotary files (optional) patterns provided here. Look up Calder’s • files work and check out the photographs of the Roxbury kitchen. You’ll see these spoon shapes hanging all about the woodstove. Just imagine them spooning out a delicious soup!
1 Paste the patterns (two copies) onto a ⁄16" (2mm) Using an inverted cone burr, score a relief channel 1 aluminum sheet and saw out the spoon shapes. (Note: 2 down the center of the handle. Cut one shape as a spoon and one as a fork.)
From METAL ARTIST'S WORKBENCH by Thomas Mann, 2011; courtesy of CREATEMIXEDMEDIA.COM Remove the pattern paper and then texture the bowl Shape the spoon slightly using the peening head of a Reposition the handle in the vise to squeeze it shut as Flatten the handle on a steel block, using the flat face 3 portion with the ball peen head of your rivet hammer. 4 large planishing hammer while resting the spoon on a 7 you tighten the vise. I like to protect the handle form at 8 of a hammer. sandbag or concave wood block. this point by keeping it inside of a towel or scrub pad.
Secure the handle in a vise, aligning the relief chan- Gently collapse the fold further with the flat face of the Add any further desired texture to the bowl and the Drill no. 55 holes along the handle length. (I made 5 nel with the straight line of the jaws. Gently fold the 6 planishing hammer. 9 handle, using the ball peen head of the rivet hammer. 10 four, but make as many or few as you like.) exposed edge toward the vise surface.
From METAL ARTIST'S WORKBENCH by Thomas Mann, 2011; courtesy of CREATEMIXEDMEDIA.COM www.CreateMixedMedia.com Join the creative community at 11 Insert 16g copper rivets. CreateMixedMedia.com! jewelry techniques • projects • e-books • shop • book reviews
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Discover more inspiration with these North Light titles: 12 Trim and set the rivets.
Calder Spoon [enlarge 150% or as desired]
Amulets and Talismans Torch-Fired Enamel Like two books in one, you’ll Jewelry receive plenty of cold-connec- Learn how to add the beauty of File all the edges. tion instruction, plus inspiring torch-fired enamel beading to information about how to instill your wire-working repertoire! 13 meaning into your work—both the making and the finished pieces.
From METAL ARTIST'S WORKBENCH by Thomas Mann, 2011; courtesy of CREATEMIXEDMEDIA.COM