Torching

“Creating beauty
is one of the highest
and most healing purposes we can pursue.”
~ Trenton Tully in True Balance by Sonia Choquette

When I took Shawna Moore’s workshop I learned how to use a butane torch, and loved it. After some research I purchased the Iwatani Cooking Torch, but then never got around to buying the canisters, until earlier this year.

At that time I also ordered the MSA Safety Works 817662 Paint and Pesticide Respirator Emily Rutledge recommended during a FUSEDChicago discussion.

The respirator is surprisingly lightweight. Adjusting the filters was a challenge initially, but in spite of their lopsided position it was easy to work with the mask on.

Hearing myself breathe made me feel like Darth Vader, but over time I got used to it, and even forgot that I couldn’t just take a sip of water without taking off the mask.

The pigmented beeswax gives off emissions that aren’t healthy to breathe on a regular basis (especially the toxic jeweltones I love most), and with the weather turning cooler the ventilation of fresh air will become more of a challenge, so it is good to protect one’s lungs for time-consuming projects.

I practiced with an old piece from my UTEE days that needed an update.

It took me a little while to sort through the gun’s functions, but once I read the directions properly I got the big torch to work.

I still toggle back and forth with the smaller one and a heat gun as I get the hang of its fire power.

This is a lovely video explaining the difference between what heat sources do to the wax.

I worked on a damselfly diptych.

The palette quickly became darker as I needed to cover up some errors.

Layering and incorporating meaning is always fun.

Not burning the paper was another learning curve.

The Ebony Jewelwing photos are from my Utica retreat.

I am still not sure of the proportions of the photos, so it may get a re-do later this month.

Another diptych helped me practice some more.

Meanwhile, 2 of my desktop minis were sent off to a new home, so I will be working on more small works later this month.

“I want to share my work and
give as many people as possible the experience
of living with a piece of art,
even if that piece of art is a print and not necessarily an original.
… I would hope
that when somebody looks at my work they smile,
they feel a good energy and they get excited.”
~ Romero Britto in Art Calendar November 2009