Goldsmiths' Design Ideas & Wax Carving Workshop

Whilst the rest of the university has "Employability Week", we have taken some time out of the module to have a think about the Goldsmiths' Craft & Design Council competition 2017/2018.

We got together in groups to throw around some ideas for the Jewellery Design category, the brief for which is as follows:
"Using coloured gemstones of any type, shape or cut, design a fine jewellery pendant and earrings that relay a message, story, season, act of nature or personal expression across these interrelated jewels. Coloured gemstones must be a predominant feature in your proposal."

Using the seasons as a theme, my group chose autumn.

We then came up with our own designs based on what we'd discussed.

Mine was an easy choice, that very morning I had seen a blackbird eating orange berries on a bush.
I decided I'd like to record that moment in oxidised silver and half drilled carnelian.

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Although Wednesdays wax carving taster was supposed to be based around medals (to tie in with the current exhibition in the atrium) it was a no brainer to try and model the blackbird for my Goldsmiths' design.

I did not have much luck with the heated wax carvers and electric pen, doing most of the work with a saw, scalpel and burr.
The super smooth affect was achieved by holding the wax directly over a meths lamp flame.

I'm hooked!