Weekly Progress
- S.Dickinson
- Feb 21, 2021
- 1 min read
This week I worked on concept drawings as well as sample pieces.
Below are some sample rings that i've constructed. The materials that i've used are polymer clay and steel wire for the ring band. The top components are made from rubber and PVC glue.
I was able to alter the colour of the PVC glue by mixing it with a powdered pigment. I was happy with the results. (Picture below). The great thing about PVC glue is that it cures extremely fast and is able to take on different colours. The downside is that it has a very harsh chemical smell. I made sure to do this part with gloves and a mask, as well as being outside.
My first attempt at mixing the PVC glue with the powdered pigment didn't go well. I tried to mix both components in a plastic sanitary cup. I didn't consider how the chemicals in the glue would react with the plastic, it ate through the bottom of the cup causing a mess on my counter. Nothing a little acetone and soap couldn't fix. :)
Eek- yes I can smell the chemical odor of that PVC glue from here. Are you finding that PVC glue is forming a strong bond with rubber? We have used PVC before in construction and it worked well on white plumbing plastic- you also use a catalyzer to soften the plastic. I like some of your drawings here show a tension between the organic rubber bits and hard (metal?) jewelry edges. The few rubber samples you have shown here, while experimental, are missing that tension between well-crafted purposeful lines, and sort of wild, gooey assemblages.
These designs are really starting to come alive as sea creatures and if you can capture the mystery of these underwater beings in your pieces, you will have succeeded in engaging the wearer into understanding the 'story' as you mentioned in one of your previous blogs.