Progress in casting

I have at last succeeded in making the piece I had planned, though this is very much a test piece, I think I have made all the required mistakes now, so when I make another, it will be of good quality.

Speeding up the drying process by putting the cast in the oven at less than 50°C leaving the door ajar so that moisture can escape, can prevent rust stains forming (seen here in the third image).

Geometric Sculpture - Relueaux TriangleRelueaux Triangle SculptureRelueaux Triangle SculptureRelueaux Triangle Sculpture

Reuleaux Sculpture - First customer

My first customer

The train to Bristol

Today I went by train to Bristol and couldn’t resist covertly photographing this beautiful Japanese woman as she slept, seen through the reflection of passing smoke, trees and fields seemingly to be gently enveloping her.

Sleeping on a Train

A dark shape appears to be rolling her head and making her gasp – seen through a fine white gauze-like stream.

Sleeping on a Train 2

Geo tagging with my phone tells me exactly where I took this photo – on the traintrack just after it crosses the A338 north of Wantage – simultaneously both fascinating and useless information.

Below is a photo of Reading station – repeating patterns in such close proximity. The cut out shapes are the same but seen in silhouette, then blue and above, apparently reversed – the same shapes made from corrugated roofing – confused by reflections in the train window.

patterns in victorian stations

I tried photographing the concrete-paved platform as the train was slowly pulling out of the station, the yellow warning strip of the edge of the platform makes a pleasing border.

concrete platform

Decorative plasterwork on the ceiling of a public house dating back to 1746, the Llandoger Trow in Bristol centre.

plasterwork ceiling

Greenwich Park

Magonlia buds have opened further in the warm sunny weather over the last few days.

Magnolia buds almost open in Greenwich Park

Magnolia buds just beginning to burst open

I am lucky to live within walking distance of this great old park, wide views over London, historic bulidings, some of the oldest trees for miles around and plenty of green space. We are all distressed to know that our access will be restricted for so long this summer to make way for the Equestrian Olympics.

Each week we see changes, the building of new banks for jumps, trimming of some trees, removal of others, widening of gateways, re-laying of lawns and paths – the list goes on and on. Progress and development are good but the chain-saw sounds of tree-felling are worrying. Even the heath is being transformed with temporary buildings – provision of stabling for all the horses.

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Repetition

Cobbled Bridge
Cobbled Bridge in Warkworth

My booted friend saw this grating in Portmerion and knew I’d like it.

Crossing over thew railway line in Blaenau Ffestiniog, I presume the wooden rails are to stop people wandering off from the official route.

Railway Lines at Blaenau Ffestiniog

The watermill at Blaenau Ffestiniog, water drips running down in the gaps between the railings and below, the hods of thre wheel juxtaposed against the perspective lines of the slates on the roof beyond.

Watermill at Blaenau Ffestiniog

Watermill at Blaenau Ffestiniog

Blaenau Ffestiniog

Snowdonia – a week of grey skies and mists and just two days of lovely sunshine – watching the dawn from the skylight window looking over the hills to the north east. The ‘mist’ in the valley in the foreground is really just the vapour from the condensing boiler but I thought it added something good to that dark space.

Sunrise at Ffestiniog

Looking away to the north west, just visible – a flock of white birds chasing away the black birds.

Angry Birds at Dawn

Back again to the north east the sun finally lighting up all the details of the valleys and trees through the mist.

Misty sunrise at Ffestiniog