Jim Kelso Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 The Winters are long up here, with record breaking snowfall this season and still a fair bit of cover in the woods. Spring is coming as a revelation. Put me in a mind to make some homage, so here is an offering of a small stump with fern fiddleheads determined to make their way up and through last Fall's Beech leaf. The stump is Black Ash burl(carved from slab). Carved, Burned, brushed, blasted and oiled. The end-grain lid is Chestnut shibuichi with traces of fused gold "moss". Beech leaf in copper and fiddleheads in 22k gold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ruslander Posted April 17, 2008 Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Very nice. Are Fiddleheads little ferns ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 17, 2008 Thanks Mike. Yup, they're young ferns that unscroll into adults. Funny how that happens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Lovely, Jim! What's the size? Reminds me a lot of some of the "nurse" stumps we have locally here in the Pacific Northwet (as you well know!) with entire little communities growing from them. Did you know that fiddleheads are edible (steamed)? Something like asparagus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Thanks Tom. It's about 80mm the long way and the ferns are 18mm tall off the lid. You can see relative to my thumbs in my avatar. I did know that some are edible although the usual cautions apply to all wild foods. Don't eat what you don't know to be safe. My neighbor brought some to dinner a few years ago and half of us got sick, one rather violently. We never knew why exactly. Here are some close-ups Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Sanders Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Thanks for showing that Jim. The stump survived admirably from your beatings There's something still holding me back from experimenting like that and seeing what comes of it. Your success is good inspiration. Tom- I like the idea of a nurse stump. Very appealing. Jim- one more thing. Out of curiosity, was there a particular collector in mind for this? I ask because I'd imagine there's a limited audience for kogo, but it could just as well be enjoyed as a small box, obviously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Bonham Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Hi Jim, Beautiful piece! Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Thanks Doug & Dick. Doug, I do have someone in mind but not specifically because it's a kogo. Small boxes seem to have an almost universal appeal, and I certainly wouldn't limit it's use to that. The nurse logs and stumps of the Pacific NW are amazing, especially in the rain forest. Here's one from near Snoqualmie Falls, nearly 2 meters tall tall. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RUSS Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Looks realy good Jim......Is there anything lurking under their................. We like roots..................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tsterling Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Would also make a nice kagamibuta netsuke in a smaller format, maybe without the fiddleheads sticking up so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Russ, that's some roots! and on a nurse-temple... Thanks, Jim Tom: I hadn't thought of that but sure. The bowl could be carved as bark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnus homestead Posted April 18, 2008 Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Hi Jim, I like this very much - beautiful leaf! The ferns are a handle I presume - what does the back of the lid look like and the interior? Thanks you for the lovely piece and the photos. Magnus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 18, 2008 Thanks very much Magnus, Yes the ferns are a handle. And here's a shot of the underneath. I forgot to mention that in keeping with the springtime idea the stump is meant to be a willow and inside is a willow branch in katakiri-bori. I'll get a shot of the interior later. Cheers, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnus homestead Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Thanks Jim, that's very nice - what's going on in the concavity beneath the branches? And here's one of my favorite root photos. Blessings, Magnus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Hi Magnus. That's a great photo. Not clearly seen in the other photos is a significantly raised chunk of the stump top. The concavity is were this was bumped up from the back. This photo shows the raised bit in the upper left. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Bonham Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Hi Jim, You certainly captured the look of a weathered stump. How did you do the fungus. It looks very real. Dick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 How did you do the fungus. Dick Hi Dick and thanks. Do you mean the ferns? I'd be happy to explain but there is no fungus. Just the stump body and the lid which is the decaying stump top. Then the leaf and ferns. Perhaps you mean the stump top. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnus homestead Posted April 19, 2008 Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 Hi Jim, I think Dick is talking about the moss on the stump - in gold I believe - it's great to see this last photo - it's so hard to take in everything about this complex work in photos - thank you Jim. Magnus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 19, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2008 The gold moss is 18k plumb solder paste that is fused to the lid after all the detail is engraved. You can see in the photo that I actually applied a lot more than I ended up with. I spent quite a lot of time engraving away what I thought was superfluous. The photo shows the lid with a coating of flux to prevent oxidation and alteration of the base alloy and the solder ready to fuse laid on the flux. Also a document describing the details of this piece which you are welcome to download. TenderMessenger.doc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vjacheslav Posted April 20, 2008 Report Share Posted April 20, 2008 Jim, thanks! Your work is fine! Вest regards Vjacheslav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2008 Thanks so much Slava. Do svidanya. :-) I enjoyed seeing your new work, especially, "Buds Eucharis". Can you share it with us? Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vjacheslav Posted April 23, 2008 Report Share Posted April 23, 2008 Hello Jim! I necessarily shall show new work " Buds Eucharis "! It is not finished yet. Do svidanya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Thanks for showing that Jim. The stump survived admirably from your beatings There's something still holding me back from experimenting like that and seeing what comes of it. Your success is good inspiration. Doug, in thinking more about your comment, I don't know what would prevent you from experimenting on "scraps" of the wood you are interested in distressing. As we know, each wood has it's own character and it's only experience that tells the tale. Have fun, Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted April 25, 2008 Report Share Posted April 25, 2008 Hello Jim! As always, You have done wonderful, finest and perfect masterpiece! I love it and congratulate You! Thank You!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Kelso Posted April 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2008 Thanks very much Natasha! Really appreciated. Do svidanya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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