Saint Guinefort

I decided I wanted to try something a little new and slightly different for my next piece.  A lot of the work I've been doing lately has been experimental, trying to see what I can do and how I can do it.

For this piece I wanted to work more with the strongline and also try some more advanced decorative leading. 

I had recently bought some 6" wide copper foil for another product and wanted to test it out.

 

For the Saint Guinefort piece I wanted to add a decorative halo and collar, to add a touch of medieval aesthetics.  I wrapped the sticky backed foil on the glass and just cut out the parts I wanted exposed with an exacto knife.  If worked really well and the glue was really strong which let my get some very fine details.

Unfortunately I think the collar is too dark, it's bothered me ever since I finished the piece and I may swap it out for some yellow glass.

Unfortunately it was pretty overcast for these shots so the detail isn't coming out too great.

I'm not 100% please with this, which is a shame.  I fear the snake might break off so I may have to just create a window out of it.  And that collar needs to be changed out.

Here's a close up detail of the snakes head, the strongline made a handy tounge!

Maybe after cleaning and patina I'll be happier with the results. 

The Wine Window II

The saga continues.  As I worked on my window two weeks ago my ancient soldering iron (with the cloth cord and wooden handle) shorted out the workroom in the basement.  And was smoking from the socket.  And the handle fell off. And it buzzed. A lot.  I figured rather than continue to use it I'd treat myself to a shiny new one.

(The beginning of the repair process, right before lights out. Notice the strip of braided steel between the foil.)

I should have done so a long time ago.  I thought the old one I found in the basement was good mostly because it was large.  Come to find it wasn't actually that powerful.  I did in two hours what it probably would have taken me an entire day to do before. Live and learn, I guess

To solve the problem of framing the piece, I decided to instead run steel wire along the outermost lead lines along both sides, tacking them at the intersections.  This way the edges were exposed.  A look that I actually really like.

 

I supported the steel wire with some heavy duty chain.  I'm not sure how much the window weighs, but I'm sure 98lbs is more than enough.

The steel even took patina beautifully.

The completed piece, still successfully hanging in the window.

Detail of the wire and glass.

And my next project: Saint Guinefort