The Well cover commission started in earnest today and we managed to get the bulk of the forging and forming work done. ( still got a fair bit more to complete though.!!) The thickness of the steel created a few headaches as it just wanted to buckle and bend, but with a big hammer and a bigger fly press, we managed to keep the twisting under control.! We will bend the outer ring next week, that will help to keep the structure in place and also allow us to attach the bars that run under the top details ( this will prevent feet falling through) More photos will follow showing techniques and close ups.

The designs have finally gone into the post !! Hurrah !!! It has taken a while to get them just right. They have taken many incarnations but none of them seemed to flow or have any cohesion. I really wanted to avoid them looking like I had thrown some steel and paint at the railings. I went back to the childrens drawings and tried to remember the feelings of pride and ownership that they had when they were asked to participate in this project. This really help[ed me to bring together the individual drawings into a flowing and cohesive design. I am pleased to say that they are looking great and cannot wait to get your feedback. I am hoping to be with you all next Friday as I have a meeting in Bracknell and look forward to seeing you all then.

The designs are starting to take shape finally, i have had a mountain of designs to go through and pick out which ones will be suitable for the railings. It has been a very difficult process as the Children all came up with some fantastic ideas and images and i have drawn numerous designs that i have had to re-start as they were just not quite right.!!! However i am definitely very pleased with the designs now and will be putting the finishing touches to them very soon.

The 10 year celebratory wall sculpture was fitted yesterday to the appreciation and admiration of all the tutors and students. It was a really fun project and we really enjoyed interperating the students designs. A wall plaque is to be fitted before the unveiling which is tomorrow, 23.03.2012. Unfortunately we will not be able to attend but hope it all goes well.

This is the Maquette that was made by the clients. Next step is to draw this out full size and to scale, I`m really looking forward to getting started on this very soon.

The couple who commissioned the well cover, arrived at the forge today bringing with them an excellent model of the design and form that they wished the structure to take, complete with suggested colours. After talking through the design we are now ready to draw out the design full size and start on the commission. I will post a picture of the model tomorrow.!

  Almost completed the wall sculpture that was commissioned as a celebration of the anniversary  of   the centre. The initial designs were drawn by the students and adapted by us. We are hoping to have a student come to the forge to help stamp some words and comments into the books as a finishing touch. We have just got fixing holes to sort as well as spaying. Pictures of it in its new home will follow.

After what seems like an age the workshops involving the school children at Jennetts park finally begin this Tuesday We will be using plasticene to simulate the properties of hot metal and give the students an idea of what can be acheived. So by using a range of art materials we are hoping, by Wednesday, to have some fantastic ideas for what the children would like to see as they enter their school. I am really looking forward to coming up with the designs for this project and am hoping for some very bold patterns and shapes that will bring the railings alive.

These bookends were commissioned before christmas and the client wanted a sea and wave theme as the decoration. The boat is forged from copper bar and rivetted to the waves, giving the feeling of the boat being thrown around by the waves.