Stamp 1-2-15

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I went for another run this after noon and came across the seed pods.  As kids we called them helicopter wings and would drop them and watch them spin around and around before landing.  They were super cool!

Helicopter seed pods
Helicopter seed pods
a different view
a different view

So I came back to the studio and started sketching from the photo’s. This is what I came up with:

Starting in the bottom left corner and working up and down. The design in the lower right is what I settled on. I think it will be a successful stamp.
Starting in the bottom left corner and working up and down. The design in the lower right is what I settled on. I think it will be a successful stamp.

Its difficult to know in the beginning if a stamp will be successful. By successful I mean eye catching, will the viewers eye move over the piece up and down and will the attention be caught. Also will it indent the clay enough for the glaze to pool into and will it be visible. I never know until after the stamp is finished and bisque fired if it will work. Even then I have to play around with it on a slab of clay to figure out the pattern what works best.

Below are the progressive photos starting out with a lump of clay until the finished stamp is achieved.

 

the lump of clay
the lump of clay
The gist of the outside
The gist of the outside
Beginning of the spiral
Beginning of the spiral
working on perfecting the spiral
working on perfecting the spiral
The spiral is almost as it should be
The spiral is almost as it should be
I have the spiral finished and now its time to make the spine of the stamp
I have the spiral finished and now its time to make the spine of the stamp
Bit by bit I remove some of the clay. I have to be careful to to go to fast as it will distort the shape to much.
Bit by bit I remove some of the clay. I have to be careful to to go to fast as it will distort the shape to much.
Just a little more and it will be finished!
Just a little more and it will be finished!
Here it is next to the original sketch! I think it looks rather close and am really pleased with it.
Here it is next to the original sketch! I think it looks rather close and am really pleased with it.
Labeled with the month, week and year.
Labeled with the month, week and year.

I have a set of metal letter and number stamps that I use in the studio. They were passed down to me from my Grandfather known as “tool Grampy” by his great grandson Will.

I like using tools that have been used by other makers. I feel that is somehow connects me to them as I am working. They lend a thoughtfulness and quietness to my process…. I am thankful for them.