I wanted to make medallions. With a grant from the Lopez Artist Guild, I bought the necessary equipment and took a one day class at Pratt Institute in Seattle.

With the onset of the pandemic, I dedicated my first series to all those affected by Covid-19. Picking rosemary from the garden, a plant associated wtih remembrance, I did a few sketches and then carved a wax mold.

Crucibles, MAPP gas, casting flux, sprues and flues….all new tools and techniques. My thanks to the YouTube jewelry makers who helped me troubleshoot my first attempts.

One of the best things about this technique: I can use my scrap sterling from other projects. See my orange digital scale with a pile of scrap silver that I’m about to melt down.

I’m using oiled sand to make the impression of the wax mold that I carved. The last pic is of a crucible that I just prepared with Borax by melting it into a shiny coating. This will help the molten metal pour more quickly. Next to it is my torch, a normal butane one that uses MAPP gas.

Whoops.

Another fail. I did many, many castings before I started getting a complete impression.

The Pandemic Series 2020. Rosemary to Remember….a single Tear….for someone you lost, someone who survived, or simple the memory of living through this time in history.

Currently in the “RE Visioning 2020” show @chimeragalleryonlopez, they will be on view through September 4th.