Enzo 34

Along this road
Goes no one
This autumn evening

Basho

New paper

I bought some handmade mulberry paper to try. Sumi is normally painted onto washi paper which is made from bamboo fibres. I thought the mulberry paper could be a good stand in. Unfortunately they didn't have plain white so I got light yellow. Painting on it proved quite different to watercolour paper, the fibres spread the ink in a different way. It may be good for pictures but it bleeds too much for clear writing. Perhaps I have to use a drier brush.

Enzo 33

From time to time
The clouds give rest
To the moon beholders

Basho

Enzo 32

The reason brushwork was so influential on metal work

The reason the tagane (chisels) are called the "iron brush" is carvings were closely related to ink paintings. This is not just some beautiful metaphor but as they were working in pre-photography times, ink paintings were the only common visual reference. Patrons would come in with a painting and want some part of that carved into a tzuba.

Enzo 31 enzo as eyes

I woke this morning thinking the term enzo as eyes, so I drew this owl with enzo eyes. While I am not displeased with the resulting owl, I feel the enzo get lost, they're better used as the moon or sun.

Enzo 29

Enzo 28

Enzo 27

Enzo 26

Enzo 25 Rising sun over water

Enzo 24 moon over waterfall

Enzo 23

We choose our paths, thinking we know the destination

Enzo 23

Being who I am, I can do no other

This is a concept of determinism, all events from the beginning of creation leading to a decision influence that decision, therefore while it may not be fated(as in predetermined), there is only one decision which can be made

I'm quite pleased with the ink mixture, I used light black and dark red on the same brush giving me colour and tonal variety in one brush stroke.

Enzo 22

Enzo 21

If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing

Fever Ray

Enzo 20

You grow me like an evergreen
You've never seen the lonely me at all

Placebo

Magpie culture

As a fairly extreme example of what I work with on a daily basis, this ring is perfect. The more, shinier, bigger approach to design can get very tiring.

One of the things which attracted me to the Japanese metalwork is the emphasis on balance, subtlety as well as the use of metals for their colour. There is a sensitive sophistication where all aspects are carefully considered and then skillfully executed.

Enzo 19

Ted talk Helen Fisher

http://www.ted.com/talks/helen_fisher_tells_us_why_we_love_cheat#t-676214

A fascinating look at different love systems in the brain.

Enzo 18

Enzo 17

Enzo 16

Pregnant enzo

Couple enzo

Design concepts

The concept behind these sketches is to use a mild steel plate with silver wire inlay for the figures and a gold wire inlay connecting their hearts. 

I want to show different kinds of relationships people form, the concept of the 'golden thread' which links people who love.

When two people are married but the man loves another as well

Two men dancing a waltz, possibly the 'first dance'

The marriage of two women

The gold thread connecting a mother and her unborn child

Within a couple, they turn or the world turns but they see only eachother

Heart enzo

Enzo 15

Enzo 14

Enzo 13

Speaks to narrative

Sumi-e cat

I made too much ink for one enzo today so I drew a cat.

Enzo 12

Enzo 10

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Enzo 11

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Narrative

I was making a particularly not so pretty ring at work the other day and realised that I spend much if my time telling other people's stories. Things which mean much to the customer but nothing to me. As such, I've become a good 'story teller', I can interpret the somebody's wants and desires and make them material, however I seldom ask what it is I want to say.



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Stuff from instagram

Seems I've posted to instagram what I should have included here as well.

The lighthouse was more to see if I could engrave titanium and how successful the colouring would be.

The two fish were for my mom's birthday, she's a Pisces and goldfish or koi are featured often in sumi-e.

The silver piece is still a work in progress, a slightly deeper relief with no colouring to help define anything. I'm finding this one more difficult, although as I learn more I return to it. Tiaan suggested I use a lightly textured punch on the background to flatten and separate it from the carved flower so the next stage is making a punch.

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Kusozu

An interesting group of paintings from Japan between 1300 and 1900 are kosozu. Paintings showing the 9 stages of death and decomposition. Based in Buddhist belief that one should contemplate death and decomposition in order to overcome sensual desires and affectations. I found these images at http://strangeremains.com/2015/03/06/the-beauty-of-decomposition-in-japanese-watercolor/