Friday, March 1, 2013

The Challenge of Music

Erin from Treasures Found put together one of her inspiring challenges - and what an inspiring one this has been! She prompted us to design a piece of art inspired by a piece of instrumental music. Oh, my!

I love music - almost any type of music, but I probably love classical music the most. I take piano lessons with the same teacher as my son at a music (and dance) school. The school organizes 4 recitals a year and both William and I perform at these recitals; today is the spring recital.

The piece I chose for the recital is Berceuse, by Chopin. It is one of those beautifully flowing piece, delicate and elegant, that's how I can best describe it. My part will be about the 1st minute of what you hear in Rubinstein's gorgeous interpretation :)



I've been working for a while on it - and I knew from the start this is what I will want to use for Erin's Music Challenge. For some time I just played it, continuously, trying to breath it in.

I knew what I wanted to make, I knew how I wanted my piece to look like - but I just had troubles implementing it :) This is the 3rd version (I like it the best) - unfinished, because nothing would cooperate:

Challenge of Music: Flowing music in copper :: All Pretty Things

I can hear you saying it's not unfinished, it just needs some buffing and a chain and it'll be good to go. Err... no, I don't think so, because this is how it really looks:

Challenge of Music: Flowing music in copper :: All Pretty Things

The left outside piece - I have soldered it 3 times already, I think it simply decided to sabotage me :) It will look perfect, then... poof, it comes out of the frame. I am not giving up, I just took a break, I know to take a hint!

However, I wasn't pleased that I have nothing finished to show so I went back to the piano and played it some more, hoping for a new idea to form. William told me to make a 'flowing necklace with a purple focal' and while I fully agreed with him, I was done with making things flow for the moment.

Then a couple of days ago I stumbled upon Melissa Meman's article on embossing metal. I bought the Sizzix machine around Christmas with the goal of embossing metal. I tried - and I failed miserably. You know how all the books tell you to take a sheet of metal, up to 24 ga and run it through the machine? Yeah, sure... I was a tad disappointed, but - like many other projects - I decided to give it sometime, if it was meant to be, I will find the solution. Enter Melissa's important detail: anneal the metal *before* running it through the machine. Oh, now we're talking!

I had a couple of Vintaj brass blanks, so I annealed them quickly, ran them through the Sizzix and...

Berceuse: brass, stone, embossing :: All Pretty Things

Berceuse: brass, stone, embossing :: All Pretty Things

... much better! Since the annealing brought the copper to the surface - I decided to just give it a patina through more heat. Still experimenting with the patina, but I was pleased with the results for the first time.

Now I was on a roll, and I finally had my 'flowing' elements - so I took the last piece of brass I had laying around (the rest are all stamped waiting patiently to be etched) and repeated the process. This brass is surely different from the Vintaj one - no copper showed, so the heating patina didn't work the same as in the earrings. But I still like the result:

Berceuse: brass, embossing :: All Pretty Things

Berceuse: brass, embossing :: All Pretty Things

This has been my take on Erin's Challenge of Music - I  hope you have enjoyed the journey.

Erin: thank you for the opportunity! Your challenges are always pushing me beyond my own limits, this one was no different.

Please make sure you visit the rest of this impromptu 'orchestra':

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23 comments:

  1. EB Bead and Metal Works, LLCMarch 1, 2013 at 7:21 AM

    I really hope you finish that first piece because it is stunning as it is, but when completed it will be a show stopper. Way to keep working at it and coming up with something else for the challenge - love how the earrings came out and the cuff. Maybe I should look into that machine because I don't think we are ever going to afford a rolling mill :)

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  2. Christine AltmillerMarch 1, 2013 at 9:59 AM

    this music is just what i need right now to soothe my mind and settle my soul. beautiful, tingley, like a soft rain. your earrings and so so pretty! i really am glad it turned out for you the second time. and i hope that gorgeous necklace starts cooperating!

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  3. Amy S.March 1, 2013 at 11:25 AM

    Alicia - this piano piece is so pretty and so are your metal pieces. I love this interpretation! And how cool that the recital shares the day with this challenge!

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  4. AntiquityTravelersMarch 1, 2013 at 1:17 PM

    Oh my! You're doing such gorgeous metal work Alicia! Love your pieces

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  5. UnknownMarch 1, 2013 at 2:19 PM

    Hi Alica - I love the journey you took us on. Your Chopin choice is so lyrical and light - I love it. It suits your choice of design perfectly. The flowing design you put on with the Sizzix matches the music and when the other necklace is more cooperative it's going to look great too.

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  6. SueBeadsMarch 1, 2013 at 2:57 PM

    Gorgeous pieces. I can't wait to see if you get the first piece together, it's so amazing! Good luck!

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  7. ManekiMarch 1, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    Lovely jewellery that really picks up on the elegance and gracefulness of the music! The first piece, as far as you've come with it, looks fab too. Hope it'll be more cooperative soon.

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  8. JennyMarch 1, 2013 at 5:59 PM

    Alicia - hearing the music while looking at the images - you really fit the piece. It is flowing, and swirly for sure!

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  9. rosebud101March 1, 2013 at 9:34 PM

    I love your experiments and the success of your masterpiece!!!

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  10. Monique (A Half-Baked Notion)March 2, 2013 at 12:21 AM

    What a wonderful musical choice... A.R. was a prodigy and a lyrical performer of unparalleled genius. This piece is sublime, Alicia, and your interpretation of its gentle and romantic beauty is so apt. The embossed pattern is very subtle. I hope you will come back to that first design, like you said, when it is "meant to be". I love that you shared it even in its unfinished state!

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  11. re-makerMarch 2, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    Thanks for sharing all of your trials and tribulations! We all have this in common.

    Your patterned cuff is a very nice interpretation of your musical selection. It makes me think of water droplets falling into a stream that is rippling and flowing to destinations unknown. Nicely done.

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  12. re-makerMarch 2, 2013 at 12:11 PM

    P.S. I hope your recital went well!

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  13. beautifullybrokenmeMarch 2, 2013 at 1:50 PM

    What a beautiful piece of music you chose - I love the seeming simplicity of the song, knowing that it isn't simple at all with all the trills and runs and unusual timing. Your process really compliments the music piece: seemingly straightforward construction that has a lot more going on than meets the eye. The finished pieces you shared are beautiful, and I can't wait to see the finished copper piece as well!

    :) Molly

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  14. A Polymer PenchantMarch 2, 2013 at 3:16 PM

    I don't recognize it, it sure is pretty. I love that you chose a piece and played it. Your fingers actually know the music in intimate detail. To then move them to making the jewelry is such a little thrill. That necklace will be stunning once the solder gods agree with your plan. Plans b and c turned out pretty fabulous though!

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  15. EmandaJMarch 2, 2013 at 3:59 PM

    I love Chopin! I also love the beginnings of your first piece (well, all you pieces, but especially the first.) Perhaps you should wire wrap it with crystals and beads -- it would be gorgeous!

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  16. TesoriTrovatiMarch 2, 2013 at 7:59 PM

    What a beautiful musical inspiration! I love the softness of it, the roundness of it and the way it tumbles and builds. Just like the detail in your piece! And I am so glad that you shared it as a work in progress. I think you will work through the challenges and triumph. I never knew about annealing the metal before embossing but that makes perfect sense. Are you using a flame to do that? I will have to give that a try. Thank you for sharing your music and art with the world! Enjoy the day. Erin

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  17. PepitaMarch 3, 2013 at 4:26 AM

    I like classical music, but don't listen to it often. This Chopin's piece is beautiful and so are your pieces. I specially ike the first necklace (even if it's unfinished), those swirls just perfectly emphasize the music. I'd like to see the finished piece.

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  18. Jess GreenMarch 3, 2013 at 6:15 AM

    It's so frustrating when an idea won't come together, especially when you have a deadline! I hope you do get it finished though, it looks fab :) Love the earring and the cuff - those baroque curls are perfect to reflect the flowing nature of Chopin's work.

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  19. AliMcMarch 3, 2013 at 6:59 PM

    Alicia, I think the cuff is the perfect compliment to the music. I have always loved piano music, tried to learn to play as a kid but it definitely was not my forte, lol. Can't wait to see the copper scroll work when you get it to cooperate into being finished.

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  20. kmorganMarch 4, 2013 at 12:54 AM

    Chopin's music is heart rending & so very beautiful! You did a great job with the cuff & earrings. The scroll work you incorporated in them fits the music so well. I would love to see your copper wire scroll work when you get it finished!

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  21. AnonymousMarch 4, 2013 at 5:47 AM

    Your choice of music is beautiful (and how clever are you to be able to play it!), and I love the beginnings of your piece. Good on you too for coming up with something else while you work out the kinks in your first piece. Love the cuff and earrings.

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  22. AliciaMarch 4, 2013 at 11:02 PM

    Thank you so much for all your comments and words of encouragement! I can proudly announce the swirly copper piece has decided to cooperate and I soldered it successfully. When it's going to be completely finished I will post it :)

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  23. SoulsFireDesignsMarch 4, 2013 at 11:26 PM

    Oh I do so love Chopin! My favorite classical composer I think, what a beautiful piece. And I love the necklace you are working on! Yay! And the embossed pieces are just lovely as well! Keep up the good work :)

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