Patrik Kusek – Master Muse Challenge #23

Patrik shares with us a quick synopsis of the steps he takes to create his Silver Metal Clay Box. This is the third challenge for the group of 5 Masters. The first team has tackled Metal Clay Clasps, Torch Fired Enamels and Metal Clay and now Boxes with Metal Clay Components.

We hope the tutorial will serve to inspire you to create! No matter if you just get out your sketch book and draw a similar project based on these challenges. It’s a place to start. It’s a way to start off your day in the right frame of mind with a creative exercise!

Patrik says “we all have hopes and dreams, wishes for success, or wishes for a long and healthy life. I created the Wish Pod as a way to capture our wishes or dreams and then release them into the universe. It’s also way to incorporate our dreams and wishes into our own daily ritual.

A ritual is defined as follows:
an elaborate civic ritual ceremony, rite, ceremonial, observance; service; act, practice, custom, tradition, convention, formality, procedure, protocol.

Today a ritual isn’t about a religious ceremony and certainly doesn’t have to be elaborate. It can simply be a daily activity preformed to remind us of what we hold close to our hearts. I hope the Wish Pod will be incorporated into your daily ritual and may all your wishes be granted!”

If you are interested in the full step-by-step tutorial please stay tuned. It will be available at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too! This tutorial looks like it will be over 60 pictures with tons of detail in this #23 Tutorial!

In this tutorial you will learn:

• How to make a hollow metal clay vessel
• How to sculpt components
• How to use the Makins Professional Ultimate Extruder to create feet and other components
• How to calculate shrinkage to incorporate a lid and base
• How to add on metal clay embellishments
• How to carve into clay to make texture
• How polish to get a satin finish
• How to add gold to your piece

Making the Cone Box:

Roll out your clay and cut out the shape per your template. Form it around the bulb. Mend your seam with water and #0 Clay Shaper. Trim bottom edge with tissue blade and perfect greenware. Set aside to dry or place in a dehydrator.

Repeat steps to create second cone. Sand, perfect and compare them to make sure they are the same sizes.

Roll out a slab of clay and cut with the needle tool to fit the base of the cone. Attach to the cone and set aside to dry. Sand and perfect.

Find the center of the cone and draw a circle which will become the size of the inner lip to the box. (Patrik shares how he finds the center, and shows the steps in the full tutorial). Using a wooden mandrel or a ring sizer, determine the size ring you will need to make and the mandrel needed. Roll out the clay and make a ring on the mandrel. (Patrik shows all the steps on how he makes a ring)

Using a v-gouge dockyard carving tool, place lines until they are touching and or overlapping. Carve the top, flat section of the cone as well.

Make a hole in the top of the cone and attach the finished ring to the top of the cone. Enlarge the hole to fit the size of the ring.

On the bottom cone, open up the hole to the determined size from taking a measurement of the top half of the cone. (Patrik has this broken down into complete steps so the lid if a close fit)

Make the Stand:

Place the leg template included with the full tutorial under a page protector. Use the Makins Ultimate Professional Stainless Steel Extruder and the 3 clover leaf shape disc insert to create the vines. Place this segment on the template and allow to dry in that shape. Create 3 total legs.

Calculate the size of the ring for the stand based on the widest diameter of the cone box. Make a ring and then attach the legs to this ring. Attach the leaves to the legs of the stand also.

Create the top of the box by extruding a shorter section and sculpting out the connecting areas and curling the top.

Fire the box and stand in the kiln. Don’t forget to prop in vermiculite or fiber blanket.

Apply the Aura 22K to the top sculpted vine, the leaves and the lip and torch fire.

Polish the piece and prepare the wishes.

Patrik says “place it on your nighstand or a place you see it first thing in the morning. Every day set an intention and meditate on your wish. On the 8th day, take the wish out of the pod. Light it on fire and focus on the wish. Lighting it will send it out into the universe. The universe provides!”

What a beautiful piece that is elegant and purposeful.  The design conveys the meaning of the piece very well and would perfectly hold a reminder of a person’s highest intention until it manifests.  What a great gift to give someone that you love.  

We’d love to see you take the challenge and make this or a similar piece as well. Can’t wait to see your pieces. Send them and we’ll post pictures in a future Challenge Gallery. Challenge yourself!

Don’t forget to leave a comment. We are giving away a Makins Ultimate Stainless Steel Extruder (a $49.95 value!) this month. How to win? Leave a comment on every blog (even older posts) or get two entries for tweeting, putting it on Facebook, the Metal Clay Yahoo Gallery forum, your blog etc. Just send us a copy of the link to support@wholelottawhimsy.com! Let your friends know how to make their Wednesday’s rock…. with of course, the Master Muse Tutorial launch!

Patrik Kusek has been in the design and fashion industry for over 20 years and currently teaches metal clay classes and workshops in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as nationally. He is a senior PMC® instructor who teaches for Rio Grande and his work has appeared in numerous publications including Art Jewelry, Lapidary Journal, MJSA, and various books. He is a member of SNAG, ACC and the PMC Guild. Patrik is the 1st place Saul Bell winner of the 2007 PMC category.

Check out Patrik’s work at www.PatriksStudio.com. You can purchase his work online as well!

Photo credit: final piece Drew Davidson; step-by-step Patrik Kusek