Term 1, Week 4

Flower, mould and unfired silver clay, with hazel leaf above.

Botanical week

Instructions

• Make a silver clay leaf pendant using the paint-on silver clay paste technique.

• Make a botanical project of your own design using botanic materials.

Hazel leaf

This was the last leaf remaining on my hazel bonsai tree before winter. Silver clay paste was used (a more viscous version of the clay) and was painted directly onto the leaf in thin layers. Each layer was dried before adding more. I made my own paste for this out of reconstituted clay. Once the piece is dry it is fired in a kiln where the leaf burns away leaving an exact impression. A hole was drilled to allow for a jump ring and chain.

Chrysanthemum

I bought a bunch of flowers and moulded a small chrysanthemum with moulding material. I then moulded the flower from metal clay in the mould. I then added 24k gold using the keum boo technique and then added a slight patina in the centre to make the gold pop. I added a bale on the back which was made from the edge of the flower mould.

I really enjoyed this week, and am especially pleased with the flower.