Finishing the Enzo moon plate

The contrasts in carving only become properly evident after a patina or some other method of colouring is applied to the metal.

Today I added a black finish to the steel by heating it and quenching it in cooking (sunflower) oil.




It took several goes to get it looking good. It seems to build up in layers. I brass brushed the whole thing first time round, then selectively sanded it. Then back in the quench, then selectively sanding again.

The results are fairly pleasing although next time I inlay I will be much lighter on the hammer, trying the clean up the marks around the inlay is tricky.



I'm going to mount this one in wood, or possibly slate, not sure yet.

I may have been thinking too small

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/245938829623798237/

Seems some Enzo are much larger than I thought.

Enzo 18

Enzo 17

Enzo 16

Couple enzo

Heart enzo

Enzo 15

Enzo 14

Enzo 13

Enzo 12

Enzo 10

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Enzo 11

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Enzo 9

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Enzo 8

Thought I'd give kanji a try today, this one is the symbol for sword

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Enzo 7

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Enzo 6

In Chaos
A Calm Spirit

Enzo 5

To Discover where a path will lead
One must walk it

Enzo 4

Blue Clouds
Hang Low and Flat
In a gap
The Sun!

Enzo 3

The Sun Rises
The Moon Sinks
A Poor Night's sleep
Is Packed Away

Having done more reading on enzo, I've seen they normally have poem or a few words along side them. As I don't know neither Japanese nor kanji I tried English and western lettering. Western lettering developed from pressing a stylis in clay to chiseling in stone to writing with a quill to ball point pen. It is not suited to the brush and looks sloppy. I will perhaps use a pen or a small hard bristle brush next time.