Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Tree Frog Cuff
This is going to be one cool cuff.
The back legs and feet are actually what goes around the arm holding the cuff in place plus the upper left arm and hand just add extra support. The right hand props his head up and although his back is facing you now, when wearing him he is looking at you. So whether he is on your left arm or right, he is always looking at you. As pictured now, he is on your right arm scooting down...on your left arm, he is scooting up your arm. No profile shots yet...still fine tuning his handsome features.
The first casting will be all Sterling Silver with antiquing to bring out the detail and depth in the philodendrons.
My Little Tree Frog Cutie Pie Cuff with little heart
Philodendrons trailing down his back.
Say Hello!
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Can you guess what's coming soon? |
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Katie's Bouquet
She said YES!!!
Dawn-
I recently saw some of your work at the Apple Festival up in North Carolina. I am interested in having an engagement ring custom created. I love your floral renderings and as such, the inspiration for my ring is the winter flower called the Snowdrop. I'm not exactly sure how I want this executed (not being artistic and such). Please let me know what I needs to happen for this to move forward, thanks so much for your time...
...well, first I needed to see what a Snowdrop Flower looked like and to my suprize...I loved this flower and immediately saw the flower draping over her finger. I pulled several pictures off the web and asked if these were what she had in mind and it was. Here are the inspirational pictures Katie & I agreed upon.
Once I started working on the ring I realized that either the ring was going to have to be shortened or she had to have long fingers, well Katie was blessed with very long fingers, so my Snowdrop Bouquet draping over her fingers could continue.
This is what I sculpted...
My idea is for the open Snowdrop bud on top will hold a diamond in a 6 prong setting. I've added a blue wax ball to visually show the placement of the setting. |
Not your typical band but once together it all works together. |
I love the additional draped buds on each side. Each semi-open buds are three dimensional showing the detail inside the petals. |
A Wedding Gift for Kathy & Wynne - Completed!
Completed!
Both matching pendants came out beautifully!
I love these kind of e-mails...
...We saw some of your work at the Neptune Festival in Virginia Beach. It's very impressive and beautiful. We are interested in getting custom wedding rings. Since your work is so true to nature, we're hoping you can come up with a design for us.
Their ideas...
We want a design based on two trees with their branches growing together. It's based on a story in mythology about Baucis and Philemon. We can't quite picture how this can be turned into a ring, but maybe you can. If we can't get a design we like for rings, we would consider pendants.
Here was my suggestion...
Due to my design being so wide, it would work for Wynne but not for Kathy, so we are heading back to the drawing board, which I love and start sketching on a new his & her pendant design based on the two trees.
Here is one of two Ideas...
"TreeHearts" |
I have another totally different idea...I'll sketch this one tomorrow.
Now don't judge this piece on my sketch...sculpted in 3-D, this piece as well as the double pendants above
will look as if I carved the tree and dipped it in gold & silver.
...and this is what I Sculpt.
One tree will be cast in 14k yellow gold and the other side
cast in 14k white gold. The oval would look good in
either Yellow or White Gold.
...and this is my inspiration tree outside my dad's studio in Cornelius, NC
Yep, that's Lake Nornam
waters down about 4'
Thursday, October 13, 2011
New Kudzu Cuff Bracelet - One Special Cuff for Becky
...
Whew! And She Loves It!!!
If possible, I always like trying the piece on my arm. |
I already know this cuff is going to be beautiful...my number one rule is that if the wax looks good, then the finished piece will look awesome. |
Still in the rough but I thought you might like to see another view or two... |
And now my third set of leaves. I've spent about 30 minutes just getting them proportioned correctly. |
I sculpted a smaller set of three leaves and attached them next to the larger set. |
Friday, September 30, 2011
Ocean Fusion
Fusion Starfish Cuff
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In 1968, noted trumpeter and composer Miles Davis produced an album entitled “Miles in the Sky” incorporating electric instruments in a combination of jazz and rock elements to form a slick, smooth, and elegant jazz sound with a rock rhythm. They called it Jazz Fusion, and the name stuck! Since then many noted music artist have been noted for their contribution to Jazz Fusion. Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Santana, Cream, Blood Sweat and Tears, Chicago, Steely Dan, Frank Zappa to name a few.
In 1983, Wolfgang Puck, said to be a Pioneer of Fusion Cuisine, opened Chinois of Santa Monica. Known for creating Asian dishes using California’s fresh and accessible produce, combined with French Culinary Techniques, where you can find such savory dishes at “Whole Sizzling Catfish with Ponzu Dipping Sauce” or “Mongolian Lamb with Cilantro-Mint Vinaigrette.
In 2011, Dawn Vertrees Jewelry Designer melded the design of Fan Coral with that of a Starfish, or form a bracelet like none other you’ve ever seen! Yes, she’s taken the Fusion idea to a new level. Cast in Sterling Silver, this striking bracelet exhibits mirror polished fan coral seemingly cloaking a smooth tectured starfish that’s slipping out from under it. The bracelet fits on the wearer’s arm as if it found it’s way there while scuba diving in the Caymans. Or is it off a ledge near Punta Bunda, Mexico. It means something different to each viewer, but one thing’s for sure, its awesome fusion!
Don Vertrees
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Citrine and Gold Ring Design
Well, Third time's a Charm...
...I will start sculpting this ring for Bree starting tomorrow morning and of course, I'll be showing it's progress on my blog. I'm so glad we jumped over to the tulips...I can just envision this ring finished.
Bree's Design #1 White and Yellow Gold surrounds this impressive teardrop shaped faceted Citrine. |
There will be several designs going back in forth to get the perfect design and in the end...It may look nothing like this piece I've drawn but sometimes you just have to work out the details.
The dome like base of the ring would be white gold, high polished. I would sculpt the leaves and vines separately and then solder them to the white gold creating a look as if they were actually growing up and around the stone. The yellow gold leaves will pop on the white gold.
Being that the leaves and vines are sculpted separately and not carved, this is going to give a lot of dimension plus making it very realistic.
I didn't add all of the leaves to the design, I wanted you to see the white gold under the yellow gold leaves. Once I sculpt the base, sculpting the leaves is the creative part.
The stone will set up and light will get up under the stone. The citrine is actually a good depth for this ring.
Bree's Design #2 White and Yellow Gold surrounds this impressive teardrop shaped faceted Citrine. |
Bree's Design #3 |
I never make both sides exactly alike so I wanted to give you a quick hint for the other side of the ring. Personally...this is my favorite design so far. The leaves and tulips will be individually sculpted and cast then soldered to the ring base giving it a raised authentic look.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Ocean Artist Society
Using ocean art to inspire people around the world to a greater awareness of our
need to preserve our natural world.
To my Blogger fans, I wanted to let you know that I have been inducted unanimously by Wyland, Guy Harvey and Bob Talbot into Wyland's
Ocean Artists Society
- a group of distinguished painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, and writers coming together to use ocean art to inspire people around the world to a greater awareness of our need to protect and preserve our natural world.
A big thank you to all OAS founding members, and to Jennifer Small - Wyland Foundation.
Ocean Artists Society
- a group of distinguished painters, sculptors, photographers, filmmakers, and writers coming together to use ocean art to inspire people around the world to a greater awareness of our need to protect and preserve our natural world.
A big thank you to all OAS founding members, and to Jennifer Small - Wyland Foundation.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
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