Crafting the Image of Elizabeth I Part One

Queen Elizabeth I was very aware of how important her image was to her subjects and to the rest of the world. She cultivated her appearance as the Virgin Queen by applying make up and wearing elaborate wigs and gowns. She famously never married, choosing to retain sole power as Queen of England.

Inspired by surviving portraits of Elizabeth I, I decided to see if I could recreate her image in copper and silver. The portrait below was a particular inspiration. It dates from c. 1588 and commemorates the defeat of the Spanish Armada. It part of the National Portrait Gallery's collection although it is rarely on display.

© National Portrait Gallery, London

First, I had to pare down the design to make it easier to pierce from silver sheet. I drew my design onto the sheet and drilled tiny holes where the eyes, eyebrows and mouth were going to be. The next stage was to pass a saw blade through the holes and sketch out the design by cutting into the metal. This is incredibly fiddly and you need an exceptionally steady hand! There is an added sense of fear because if you make a mistake, you cannot rectify it and you have to start again. 

Next, I needed to cut out a heart shaped piece of copper for the hair. I wanted it to cover the detail in the face and to strengthen the design so it had to be big enough to fit neatly behind the ruff.

The fear of filling the pierced design with solder is very real and so I've found the best way to achieve good results is to use very tiny pieces of solder positioned very carefully. I then laid the silver Elizabeth onto the copper sheet and moved the flame continuously whilst checking to see if the two metals were fixed together.

After soldering, Elizabeth I looked quite like a zombie! The flux has reacted here to provide a greenish tinge and the copper is demonstrating the beautiful fire patterns that can be achieved through heating copper and then quenching in cold water very quickly.

I've included a photo below of the process of soldering a brooch pin onto the back of Elizabeth. I used silver solder to solder between a silver pin and the copper sheet.

Ceramics for Beginners - How To Make A Vase Part One

I recently visited the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi, France. It is a spectacular art gallery, situated in the Palais de la Berbie, a former residence for the medieval Bishops of Albi with exquisite gardens and a definitive collection of Toulouse-Lautrec's work including his posters, very early paintings and even the litho stones, which were used to create his lithographic prints.

Here are some of my holiday snaps, which I hope capture the beauty of Albi.

 

The image below on the left hand side shows Toulouse-Lautrec's only foray into ceramics and it is a portrait of the cabaret singer and actress Yvette Guilbert. It can be compared with the photograph on the right hand side.

Lautrec has depicted Guilbert's trademark silhouetted gloves and has pared down his use of colour indicating the influence of Japanese ukiyo-e prints on his work. Yvette Guilbert was not entirely enamoured with her likeness. She preferred more flattering portraits but Lautrec captured her character in just a few lines through the tilt of her head as she receives the adulation of the audience and the drama of the stage, allowing the spectator a close-up of this famous star. I have to say, I really admire his work.

Here is a clip of Guilbert singing. I think it really brings the portraits to life.

I loved Toulouse-Lautrec's ceramic portrait and so I decided to do a short course at Morley College in London to see how I fared with basic ceramic techniques. The course is held over two, three hour sessions. After the first session, I have constructed a vase, which is ready to be fired. I took photos as I worked to keep track of each stage in how to make a simple cylindrical vase.

Here are the three types of clay that we were offered. I opted for the one on the left, which apparently has a dark speckled effect when fired. The middle clay had a high proportion of sand in it, giving it a gritty texture and the lightest grey clay is the most refined.

First you knead the clay and then you roll it out. Believe me, it is good for your arm muscles!

I used an old bath mat to make the pattern to be used for the decoration on the vase. It gives a surprisingly intricate effect.

Then I had to trim the clay.

I wrapped it around a cardboard tube, covered in newspaper, which makes it easier to extract once the cylindrical shape is retained by the clay.

Once the clay was trimmed and joined together, I added a base and shaped it to add extra interest.

My final addition was a little sculpted bunny and I then covered the dark clay in white 'slip', which will make the colour glaze stand out better when it is fired for a second time next week.

I was asked to prepare a tester piece of clay, which I hope to use to experiment with different glazes. I should be able to use it as a coaster afterwards!

Here's a close-up of the bunny. I really hope he remains in tact after the first round of firing!

And finally, here is the potter's wheel, which pretty much meant that I had Unchained Melody in my head for the whole session!

Made me think of this scene from Community!

Next week, I will be adding colour glazes. I am looking forward to seeing the finished vase.

Monty Python Live

So it was very last minute but the other night I managed to get a ticket to see Monty Python Live at the O2! I was really lucky. My friend had a spare ticket and so even though I failed in my initial attempts to get a ticket (I think they sold out in 40 seconds originally!), I managed to see the legends of comedy that are Monty Python. 

They performed all of the famous sketches. 


The Lumberjack Song...

 The Spanish Inquisition...

The Dead Parrot...

The whole stage looked like a Japanese print (although that may have been the angle I was sitting at!)

I'm a huge fan of Terry Gilliam and particularly of his animations so it was really cool to see him on stage. Here is a reminder of how brilliant his animations are:

I was wondering if I could make some Monty Python themed jewellery. Although I'm not sure I could top these Holy Grail themed cufflinks by British designer Chris Parry.

Just brilliant!

We Make London Camden Boutique

I am pleased to announce that Jewellery Designs by Sarah Birt now has a little corner of the We Make London Designers Boutique in Camden!

The address is: 

53 Camden Lock Place

West Yard

London

NW1 8AF

I have taken some photos of the approach to the shop to try to make it easy to find although if you follow the signs for West Yard Street Food and look out for the sky blue window frames and door, you should find it quite easily.

How to find the We Make London Boutique:

First, exit Camden Town tube station and follow the crowds towards the famous Camden Lock painted bridge.

Then walk past the orange juice stall and the Irregular Choice shoe shop, turn left into the market and look for the arrows pointing for West Yard Street Food.

Once you are in West Yard, you will see many food stalls and people sitting, enjoying the unique Camden market atmosphere. The boutique is number 53 so look out for bright blue window frames and card holders outside.

My jewellery should be on the window sill on the left hand side of the shop. I will post more photos but this gives you an idea of the exciting range of handmade items made by UK designers.

These are just a few of the items from Jewellery Designs by Sarah Birt that will be available in July (while stocks last!) 

You can of course still shop online at my etsy shop and you can find about more about the We Make London Boutique here.

Happy Shopping!

Fouloubal Poterie Beautiful Pottery from South West France

Just off the beaten track near Najac in South West France, is a lovely pottery workshop called Fouloubal Poterie. 

The prices are incredibly reasonable and with such beautiful items as this beaker made from copper rich local clay (hence the natural red colour effect mixed with the dove grey glaze)

and this sweet woodland tile, even someone on a budget can afford a locally made artisanal piece.

I have a particular love of wild boars (you can see my brooch based on the Chiddingly Boar here) and I purchased this pale blue glazed boar for my collection for only €5.

Fouloubal Poterie has a website here where you can see other designs.

Well worth a visit!

Save Van Dyck's Self-Portrait for the nation

The National Portrait Gallery and the Art Fund are currently running a campaign to purchase this extraordinary self-portrait by Sir Anthony Van Dyck. 

The government has placed a temporary export bar on the work, as it has been sold to a private collector overseas and they have eight months to raise 12.5 million in order to keep this treasure for the nation. 

You can contribute to the fund here and find out more about the campaign in the video below.

Stop Motion Animation

I have started an evening course in stop motion animation. So far I am really enjoying it and am surprised that I haven't tried it before! I haven't really managed to animate anything on my own yet but I am saving up to buy dragonframe and a proper camera so that I can try to make my own film.

I have been watching a lot of stop motion films recently to try to work out what can be done and what I might like to attempt myself.

The Gravedigger's Tale, directed by Min Young Oh caught my eye. The gravedigger leads a solitary existence but her loneliness is soothed by a haunting melody that floats from the edge of the forest.She is serenaded by death and this is their story. The trailer is below:

You can find out more about the production designer Olivia Muggleton's work here. I think the use of light is exceptionally beautiful. I hope you enjoy the trailer!