[Douglas]

Wanted to use this thread to go through the IT visions, the final weekly project, and the thought processes between. Before that, is there any reason I’d not want to share the IT visions on this forum with this group? I believe we were pretty free with them in the chat (at least for week 1), but thought I’d check.

[Douglas]

Probably going to anyway as I talk myself through the work.

I had decided to focus on leathercraft for these projects. It’s a new skill for me, and I can use the inspiration to develop new ideas. I thought it was important to have everything mapped out ahead of time, but I was fortunately relieved of that misconception. So, I’m developing the pieces week-to-week, and I’ll see if/when larger themes make themselves apparent. I’m also not limiting myself to leather explicitly, but it seems like a great starting point.

Weeks one and two have been designed. I’ll post those images along with any relevant journal entry snippets. But, for tonight, I finally finished a project that I started in preparation for this work. And a lot of the steps along the way have been reinforced by the Working:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/g113dobv69b8466/20220116_202726.jpg?dl=0

The banner, as of tonight, now hangs on our eastern wall. The central Sun piece was the first part that I finished. It’s an energy that I’ve been working on pulling in lately. I figure I’ll have another banner for each season/direction as we continue. But I have a few weeks before I need to contemplate the continuation.

[Douglas]

Thank you both very much!

This is going to be long, meandering, and largely about the thought processes behind creative decisions, if you find that distinct from anything else we do. Feel free to skip to the second link if you want to see the piece.

I finally got my act together enough to complete my project for week one. The IT vision opened with an inactive clamshell fountain. As the water started up, a great city rose from the red earth behind it. While this returned city was barren, the fountain indicated the possibility (but not assurance) of renewal and life. I drew a little picture:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/chb9xkwfoniq6ds/20220122_221732.jpg?dl=0

For the week’s project, I decided to roll with the themes of time and renewal. Since the names are so closely aligned with the zodiacal wheel and I wanted a concept I could return to every couple of months, I made a small piece for Aries. I’ve never done much visual art, so I’m interested to see where my tastes/ aesthetic go over the next months.

This is the first anything that I’m making with a new side of leather that I got a couple of weeks ago. My first side was very, very graciously given to me by my local Tandy when I went there to get my starter supplies. That hide was _super_ thick, but it let me learn a lot. I still have some scraps from the first hide–mostly the raw edges, which have a texture and movement that I appreciate. I decided to use those to make markers for the other pieces I make in these 72 weeks. It’s in the picture below. I should have enough for the duration (they’re small).

But, that made me realize that, while I’ve done Work on tools and such, that I hadn’t done any with the leather itself. So, Old Hide got thanked and such, new was given likewise. Seemed like a moral decision. Now I could move on.

Aries. I had the image drawn out, but I wanted to play with color, too. I’m learnerning dyes (and that they’re not paint), so I did a base yellow, a splash of red, and tried a black wash and bordering. Varying success. The Marker(?), I let soak in some orange. That leather is already very dark, so I don’t know how much it shows through.

This is them:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l223e3cy94l96y6/20220122_221349.jpg?dl=0

Astrology is something I’m also exploring for the first time, so this seems to be a good (if drawn out) way to ensure that I spend quality time thinking about each sign. I’m a Taurus cusp, so I’m looking forward to revisiting this in a few weeks.

As an aside, I’ve been leaning into that cuspness to bring more fire energy in over the last few months. I was born over a week late, so I think I can swing it sometimes. I was reminded of that when Naha mentioned finding the next thing over.

I’m realizing more and more that this medium works best when there’s some form of construction happening. Stitching, riveting, while those may be attractive and used decoratively, they exist for a purpose, and I think they look best when used for such. That idea will be carried forward, and these zodiacal pieces may be attached to something in the future. It’ll come together.

Week two is in-progress, week three has a concept, and this week has a direction.

[Douglas]

This week was a crown. Started with the ITV: Bellows blowing into a stove/ furnace, upon which was a crucible. From that, the crown. Vision’s crown was gold with a ruby in the center. Fairly archetypal. No frills. Captured expertly here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3nt2zn664ral8bo/20220213_211350.jpg?dl=0

I knew I wanted to use a stone in the center, and we had some cut for jewelry. I also knew that I wanted to use a couple of antlers that my dad gave me when I was younger.

After some sketches, the construction came together pretty easily. No offset stitch marks this time. The final piece is a bit on the [primal?] side. But I like it, it’s fun.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4rc2glna28buyut/20220210_225156.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/f9oe32rl1w6vds6/20220210_225232.jpg?dl=0

There are a few touches I want to add, but with the materials I currently have, I’m calling it done. It will stay on my head without falling apart. Done.

In the future, I’ll add some kind of material to the interior for comfort and aestheticss. A better, more secure fastener in the back.

[Douglas]

Hi, all. I’m struggling a bit to decide what to create through this working. It would be music, probably, but I don’t currently have the means to record what I’d like. I was planning on doing something with leatherworking, instead. But what? I still don’t know.

I’m just getting started with the medium, and I’ve just been doing small, varied projects to develop technique and see what aspects of the craft most appeal to me. I’m imagining a series of small pieces. Something sustainable. But these could work better as a single, slowly progressing piece. I’d love to hear what others are thinking of doing. Get some inspiration. Throw ideas around.

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